Issued:
2011-02-16
Updated:
2011-02-16

RHSA-2011:0262 - Security Advisory

Synopsis

Low: sendmail security and bug fix update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory: Low

Topic

Updated sendmail packages that fix one security issue and three bugs are
now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having low
security impact. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score,
which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from the CVE link in
the References section.

Description

Sendmail is a Mail Transport Agent (MTA) used to send mail between
machines.

A flaw was found in the way sendmail handled NUL characters in the
CommonName field of X.509 certificates. An attacker able to get a
carefully-crafted certificate signed by a trusted Certificate Authority
could trick sendmail into accepting it by mistake, allowing the attacker to
perform a man-in-the-middle attack or bypass intended client certificate
authentication. (CVE-2009-4565)

The CVE-2009-4565 issue only affected configurations using TLS with
certificate verification and CommonName checking enabled, which is not a
typical configuration.

This update also fixes the following bugs:

  • Previously, sendmail did not correctly handle mail messages that had a
    long first header line. A line with more than 2048 characters was split,
    causing the part of the line exceeding the limit, as well as all of the
    following mail headers, to be incorrectly handled as the message body.
    (BZ#499450)
  • When an SMTP-sender is sending mail data to sendmail, it may spool that
    data to a file in the mail queue. It was found that, if the SMTP-sender
    stopped sending data and a timeout occurred, the file may have been left
    stalled in the mail queue, instead of being deleted. This update may not
    correct this issue for every situation and configuration. Refer to the
    Solution section for further information. (BZ#434645)
  • Previously, the sendmail macro MAXHOSTNAMELEN used 64 characters as the
    limit for the hostname length. However, in some cases, it was used against
    an FQDN length, which has a maximum length of 255 characters. With this
    update, the MAXHOSTNAMELEN limit has been changed to 255. (BZ#485380)

All sendmail users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain
backported patches to correct these issues. After installing this update,
sendmail will be restarted automatically.

Solution

As part of the fix for BZ#434645, a script called purge-mqueue is shipped
with this update. It is located in the /usr/share/sendmail/ directory. The
primary purpose of this script is a one-time clean up of the mqueue from
stalled files that were created before the installation of this update. By
default, the script removes all files from /var/spool/mqueue/ that have an
atime older than one month. It requires the tmpwatch package to be
installed. If you have stalled files in your mqueue you can run this script
or clean them manually. It is also possible to use this script as a cron
job (for example, by copying it to /etc/cron.daily/), but it should not be
needed in most cases, because this update should prevent the creation of
new stalled files.

Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 ia64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 ia64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390x
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 4 ppc

Fixes

  • BZ - 434645 - DATA timeouts leave behind stale df files in mqueue
  • BZ - 485380 - sendmail applies MAXHOSTNAMELEN for FQDN.
  • BZ - 552622 - CVE-2009-4565 sendmail: incorrect verification of SSL certificate with NUL in name

CVEs

References

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4

SRPM
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.src.rpm SHA-256: c11d6231acf76fcf4ffa4a018a587ab70f5ef7f9cf08d535ec8b1ab0e59ca415
x86_64
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: f2fdfb3abf0d2e9b77ca4ccdb15f81838f22a653a57803cca521771121e21f11
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: f2fdfb3abf0d2e9b77ca4ccdb15f81838f22a653a57803cca521771121e21f11
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 880ff0597031d7c8a90cf8ed43454be0d6e454738f27d8fda68b6fee0ba6a8f0
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 880ff0597031d7c8a90cf8ed43454be0d6e454738f27d8fda68b6fee0ba6a8f0
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 95c1db72516f9b42efca7b74e5d9b745b98f157acb7413f1778fe019475da42e
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 95c1db72516f9b42efca7b74e5d9b745b98f157acb7413f1778fe019475da42e
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 74813a9dbe7dd06f885c7c3fcfd0bb483ed9d339267be9abca61f56a17471bb5
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 74813a9dbe7dd06f885c7c3fcfd0bb483ed9d339267be9abca61f56a17471bb5
ia64
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: be0b2121e6d776c63a3c424439a523b961b1efd5f3a5c9ad8e0c09755b536ed0
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: be0b2121e6d776c63a3c424439a523b961b1efd5f3a5c9ad8e0c09755b536ed0
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: a74f64ff8d0c62597dbda7f5746fc7bd534ff381587369aef14260ef0b843b16
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: a74f64ff8d0c62597dbda7f5746fc7bd534ff381587369aef14260ef0b843b16
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: 50ae5c3e456a0eefb121bcbe5c3a95fca017c3d2b0739eeac0137d5d0c920893
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: 50ae5c3e456a0eefb121bcbe5c3a95fca017c3d2b0739eeac0137d5d0c920893
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: 969369967aafcea84aca37924b0dff682e4e3dce2be5f4034a4c24bbdd6ecd02
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: 969369967aafcea84aca37924b0dff682e4e3dce2be5f4034a4c24bbdd6ecd02
i386
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 2362d0dcc6a92b9974e8b6c33600505f5dea6c867a10a5b33b1953d60a2676d7
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 2362d0dcc6a92b9974e8b6c33600505f5dea6c867a10a5b33b1953d60a2676d7
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: f16ab74c38b240f28c29c886c5b38480f0bf7838bbcb85f5ecd6d08ab97e7020
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: f16ab74c38b240f28c29c886c5b38480f0bf7838bbcb85f5ecd6d08ab97e7020
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 0fa217d699fef772493168014faa5d20fd8740e7502257fc44e5c1e85ab9bfc5
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 0fa217d699fef772493168014faa5d20fd8740e7502257fc44e5c1e85ab9bfc5
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 697a62be1c56d160d6f43a4e82ec0319bfab85df361f06e2b658b8408b1ac625
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 697a62be1c56d160d6f43a4e82ec0319bfab85df361f06e2b658b8408b1ac625

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4

SRPM
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.src.rpm SHA-256: c11d6231acf76fcf4ffa4a018a587ab70f5ef7f9cf08d535ec8b1ab0e59ca415
x86_64
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: f2fdfb3abf0d2e9b77ca4ccdb15f81838f22a653a57803cca521771121e21f11
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 880ff0597031d7c8a90cf8ed43454be0d6e454738f27d8fda68b6fee0ba6a8f0
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 95c1db72516f9b42efca7b74e5d9b745b98f157acb7413f1778fe019475da42e
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 74813a9dbe7dd06f885c7c3fcfd0bb483ed9d339267be9abca61f56a17471bb5
ia64
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: be0b2121e6d776c63a3c424439a523b961b1efd5f3a5c9ad8e0c09755b536ed0
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: a74f64ff8d0c62597dbda7f5746fc7bd534ff381587369aef14260ef0b843b16
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: 50ae5c3e456a0eefb121bcbe5c3a95fca017c3d2b0739eeac0137d5d0c920893
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.ia64.rpm SHA-256: 969369967aafcea84aca37924b0dff682e4e3dce2be5f4034a4c24bbdd6ecd02
i386
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 2362d0dcc6a92b9974e8b6c33600505f5dea6c867a10a5b33b1953d60a2676d7
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: f16ab74c38b240f28c29c886c5b38480f0bf7838bbcb85f5ecd6d08ab97e7020
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 0fa217d699fef772493168014faa5d20fd8740e7502257fc44e5c1e85ab9bfc5
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 697a62be1c56d160d6f43a4e82ec0319bfab85df361f06e2b658b8408b1ac625

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4

SRPM
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.src.rpm SHA-256: c11d6231acf76fcf4ffa4a018a587ab70f5ef7f9cf08d535ec8b1ab0e59ca415
x86_64
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: f2fdfb3abf0d2e9b77ca4ccdb15f81838f22a653a57803cca521771121e21f11
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 880ff0597031d7c8a90cf8ed43454be0d6e454738f27d8fda68b6fee0ba6a8f0
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 95c1db72516f9b42efca7b74e5d9b745b98f157acb7413f1778fe019475da42e
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.x86_64.rpm SHA-256: 74813a9dbe7dd06f885c7c3fcfd0bb483ed9d339267be9abca61f56a17471bb5
i386
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 2362d0dcc6a92b9974e8b6c33600505f5dea6c867a10a5b33b1953d60a2676d7
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: f16ab74c38b240f28c29c886c5b38480f0bf7838bbcb85f5ecd6d08ab97e7020
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 0fa217d699fef772493168014faa5d20fd8740e7502257fc44e5c1e85ab9bfc5
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.i386.rpm SHA-256: 697a62be1c56d160d6f43a4e82ec0319bfab85df361f06e2b658b8408b1ac625

Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4

SRPM
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.src.rpm SHA-256: c11d6231acf76fcf4ffa4a018a587ab70f5ef7f9cf08d535ec8b1ab0e59ca415
s390x
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.s390x.rpm SHA-256: dfed38f76c2385d4efee06ed9c6d69807b7576e99e28e23dff38dbb860f39b97
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.s390x.rpm SHA-256: ade55b79d4d7f61a811213802e57b59861c9f1dd4c3a6f4fbbf50d772298fcba
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.s390x.rpm SHA-256: 89abbef02cd43db44d1e7018097cccff50e964f9e2a8863e7ae9e166554cea15
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.s390x.rpm SHA-256: 5685c37348482bbbea5686fd44cf9e9dd4986d44bb75f5ae32d5f0e9234914c0
s390
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.s390.rpm SHA-256: ba84eed56fe39387e9223d0dec610bedf53ab6d6d474cfa102ae7e3d38fe82f3
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.s390.rpm SHA-256: 0abf24c84c87acb673169bdb478b82375bf088fa597b6ef21b9ef907abb3d990
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.s390.rpm SHA-256: 0b3f9f0e2c58a7a4ab9097bb1a77144ac6a1ff5140ecf62230714359db17e36f
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.s390.rpm SHA-256: 262e1fac3123f19d05c64df7d5ec1f827e17c15e0170fd8682cfe51b5358fb49

Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 4

SRPM
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.src.rpm SHA-256: c11d6231acf76fcf4ffa4a018a587ab70f5ef7f9cf08d535ec8b1ab0e59ca415
ppc
sendmail-8.13.1-6.el4.ppc.rpm SHA-256: 581e449c978b7e00b5e147b3bc926263b7965d67dd6160c1a04e74c0d68821c4
sendmail-cf-8.13.1-6.el4.ppc.rpm SHA-256: 7171e8f4b0e63a0aec7b0221235a96a33259842af535084d5f3d37c6fa19e17b
sendmail-devel-8.13.1-6.el4.ppc.rpm SHA-256: af4698801fb71e6681812a26de37c4c8091aca6ca007660a15181dfcfd12b9bc
sendmail-doc-8.13.1-6.el4.ppc.rpm SHA-256: c7bcfe9af7d8894ffca07e840e81b36c3cf7db4a2cdf49f6d557921262bb7d8a

The Red Hat security contact is secalert@redhat.com. More contact details at https://access.redhat.com/security/team/contact/.