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             AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution

       ESB-2001.529 -- HP Support Information Digests HPSBTL0112-003
                  Security vulnerabilities in the kernel
                             10 December 2001

===========================================================================

        AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
        ---------------------------------

Product:                HP Secure OS software for Linux Release 1.0
Vendor:                 Hewlett-Packard
Platform:               Intel
Impact:                 Root Compromise
                        Denial of Service

- --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT--------------------

Document ID:  HPSBTL0112-003
Date Loaded:  20011206
      Title:  Security vulnerabilities in the kernel

- ---------------------------------------------------------------
    HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY SECURITY BULLETIN: #003
    Originally issued: 06 December '01
- ---------------------------------------------------------------

The information in the following Security Bulletin should be acted
upon as soon as possible.  Hewlett-Packard Company will not be
liable for any consequences to any customer resulting from customer's
failure to fully implement instructions in this Security Bulletin as
soon as possible.

- ---------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM:  Security vulnerabilities in the kernel.

PLATFORM: Any system running HP Secure OS software for Linux Release 1.0

DAMAGE:   Potential for denial of service attacks and for local users to
          gain unauthorized root access.

SOLUTION: Apply the appropriate patch.

MANUAL ACTIONS: None

AVAILABILITY: The patches are available now.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
 A. Background

    HP Secure OS software for Linux Release 1.0 was based upon the 2.4.5
    version of the Linux kernel. Since that release, vulnerabilities have
    been discovered as follows: -

     i) a flaw in the syncookies mechanism used to protect a system against
        certain Denial Of Service (DOS) attacks.  (Note: syncookies are not
        enabled in the default installation of Secure Linux Release 1.0.)

    ii) a flaw within the ptrace code within the kernel that could be
        exploited to allow unauthorized root access.

    These vulnerabilities are fixed in the Linux kernel version 2.4.9-12.  A
    set of patches for HP Secure OS software for Linux has been produced
    using the 2.4.9-12 kernel sources as a base onto which the security
    features of HP Secure OS software for Linux have been ported.


 B. Fixing the problem

    Apply one of the following patches (depending upon the processor
    architecture on the installed system):

                  Architecture    Patch ID
                  ------------    --------
                  i586            HPTL_00004
                  i686-UNP        HPTL_00005
                  i686-SMP        HPTL_00006

    These patches are available as follows: -

    Use your browser to access the HP IT Resource Center page
    at:

       http://itrc.hp.com

    Use the 'Login' tab at the left side of the screen to login
    using your ID and password.  Use your existing login or the
    "Register" button at the left to create a login. Remember to save the
    User ID assigned to you, and your password. This login provides
    access to many useful areas of the ITRC.

    Under the "Maintenance and Support" section, select "Individual Patches".

    In the field at the bottom of the page labeled "retrieve a specific patch
    by entering the patch name", enter {{ Patch number (s) }}

    For instructions on installing the patch, please see the install text file
    included in the patch.


 C. To subscribe to automatically receive future NEW HP Security
    Bulletins from the HP IT Resource Center via electronic
    mail, do the following:

    Use your browser to access to the HP IT Resource Center page
    at:

       http://itrc.hp.com

    Use the 'Login' tab at the left side of the screen to login
    using your ID and password.  Use your existing login or the
    "Register" button at the left to create a login. Remember to
    save the User ID assigned to you, and your password. This
    login provides access to many useful areas of the ITRC.

    In the left most frame select "Maintenance and Support".

    Under the "Notifications" section (near the bottom of
    the page), select "Support Information Digests".

    To -subscribe- to future HP Security Bulletins or other
    Technical Digests, click the check box (in the left column)
    for the appropriate digest and then click the "Update
    Subscriptions" button at the bottom of the page.

    or

    To -review- bulletins already released, select the link
    (in the middle column) for the appropriate digest.

 D. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to

    security-alert@hp.com

    Please encrypt any exploit information using the
    security-alert PGP key, available from your local key
    server. You ma also get the security-alert PGP key by
    sending a message with a -subject- (not body) of
    'get key' (no quotes) to security-alert@hp.com.

    Permission is granted for copying and circulating this
    Bulletin to Hewlett-Packard (HP) customers (or the Internet
    community) for the purpose of alerting them to problems,
    if and only if, the Bulletin is not edited or changed in
    any way, is attributed to HP, and provided such reproduction
    and/or distribution is performed for non-commercial purposes.

    Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not
    liable for any misuse of this information by any third party.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
- -----End of Document ID:  HPSBTL0112-003--------------------------------------


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