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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Mandrake Local Security Checks >> MDKSA-2004:087: kernel

Vulnerability Assessment Details

MDKSA-2004:087: kernel

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
Check for the version of the kernel package

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment

The remote host is missing the patch for the advisory MDKSA-2004:087 (kernel).

A race condition was discovered in the 64bit file offset handling by Paul
Starzetz from iSEC. The file offset pointer (f_pos) is changed during reading,
writing, and seeking through a file in order to point to the current position of
a file. The value conversion between both the 32bit and 64bit API in the kernel,
as well as access to the f_pos pointer, is defective. As a result, a local
attacker can abuse this vulnerability to gain access to uninitialized kernel
memory, mostly via entries in the /proc filesystem. This kernel memory can
possibly contain information like the root password, and other sensitive data.
The updated kernel packages provided are patched to protect against this
vulnerability, and all users are encouraged to upgrade immediately.

Solution : http://wwwnew.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2004:087
Network Security Threat Level: High

Networks Security ID: 10852

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: This script is Copyright (C) 2004 Tenable Network Security

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