RHSA-2011:1089 - Security Advisory

Topic

Updated systemtap packages that fix one security issue are now available
for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having moderate
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

SystemTap is an instrumentation system for systems running the Linux
kernel. The system allows developers to write scripts to collect data on
the operation of the system.

A race condition flaw was found in the way the staprun utility performed
module loading. A local user who is a member of the stapusr group could use
this flaw to modify a signed module while it is being loaded, allowing them
to escalate their privileges. (CVE-2011-2503)

SystemTap users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain a
backported patch to correct this issue.

Solution

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
https://access.redhat.com/kb/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 5 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 5 ppc
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 i386

Fixes

• BZ - 716489 - CVE-2011-2503 systemtap: signed module loading race condition

CVEs

• CVE-2011-2503

References

• https://access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/#moderate