Synopsis

Important: kernel security update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory: Important

Topic

Updated kernel packages that fix one security issue are now available for
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.1 Extended Update Support.

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

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux
operating system.

This update fixes the following security issue:

• A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in the nf_ct_frag6_reasm()

function in the Linux kernel's netfilter IPv6 connection tracking
implementation. A remote attacker could use this flaw to send
specially-crafted packets to a target system that is using IPv6 and also
has the nf_conntrack_ipv6 kernel module loaded, causing it to crash.
(CVE-2012-2744, Important)

Red Hat would like to thank an anonymous contributor working with the
Beyond Security SecuriTeam Secure Disclosure program for reporting this
issue.

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain a backported
patch to resolve this issue. The system must be rebooted for this update to
take effect.

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/knowledge/articles/11258

To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh [package]". Do not
use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove the running kernel binaries from
your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after
determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 6.1 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 6.1 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support 6.1 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian - Extended Update Support 6.1 ppc64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support from RHUI 6.1 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support from RHUI 6.1 i386
• Red Hat Virtual Storage Appliance (from RHUI) 6.1 x86_64

Fixes

• BZ - 833402 - CVE-2012-2744 kernel: netfilter: null pointer dereference in nf_ct_frag6_reasm()

CVEs

• CVE-2012-2744

References