(RHSA-2003:368) Updated IA64 kernel packages address security vulnerabilities, bugfixes

The Linux kernel handles the basic functions of the operating system.

A flaw in bounds checking in the do_brk() function in the Linux kernel
versions 2.4.22 and previous can allow a local attacker to gain root
privileges. This issue is known to be exploitable; an exploit (for x86
architectures) has been seen in the wild that takes advantage of this
vulnerability. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project
(cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CAN-2003-0961 to this issue.

The execve system call in Linux 2.4.x records the file descriptor of the
executable process in the file table of the calling process, which allows
local users to gain read access to restricted file descriptors. The Common
Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name
CAN-2003-0476 to this issue.

A hangcheck timer (which is used to detect system hangs or pauses) has been
added.

In addition, a number of drivers have been updated:

• e1000 5.2.20-k1
• cmpci 5.64
• aic7xxx 6.2.36
• aic79xx 1.3.10
• ips 6.10.52
• cciss 2.4.50
• fusion 2.05.05+

All users of IA64 systems should upgrade to these errata packages, which
contain patches to the 2.4.18 kernel addressing these issues.