kernel security and bug fix update (RHSA-2012-0690)

Original Release Date: July 19, 2012
Last Revised: July 22, 2015
Number: ASA-2012-283
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 2.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

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

This update fixes the following security issue:

It was found that the data_len parameter of the sock_alloc_send_pskb() function in the Linux kernel's networking implementation was not validated before use. A local user with access to a TUN/TAP virtual interface could use this flaw to crash the system or, potentially, escalate their privileges. Note that unprivileged users cannot access TUN/TAP devices until the root user grants them access. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2012-2136 to this issue.

More information about these vulnerabilities can be found in the security advisory issued by Red Hat:

2. Avaya System Products using a modified version of RHEL5 with affected components/packages installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Aura® Application Enablement Services 5.x thru 6.1.x Low Upgrade to Application Enablement Services 6.2 and install patch1 or later.
Avaya Aura® Application Server 5300:
  • SIP Core
2.0 without Patch Bundle PB26 or later. Low Upgrade to Application Server 5300 with PB26 or later.
Avaya Aura® Communication Manager 6.0.x, 6.2.x Low Upgrade to Communication Manager 6.3 or later.
Avaya Communication Server 1000:
  • CS1000E
  • CS1000M
  • CS1000E/CS1000M Signaling Server
6.x, 7.x Low See recommended actions and Mitigating Factors table below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned.
Avaya Aura® Conferencing Standard Edition 6.x Low See recommended actions and Mitigating Factors table below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned. It is recommended that customers migrate to one of Avaya's conferencing solutions including Aura® Conferencing 8.0 or later.
Avaya IP Office Application Server 6.x, 7.x, 8.x Low Upgrade to IP Office Application Server 9.0 or later.
Avaya IQ 5.2 thru 5.2.5 Low Upgrade to IQ 5.2.6 and install Patch 2 or later.
Avaya Aura® Messaging 6.0 thru 6.2.x Low Upgrade to Messaging 6.3 or later.
Avaya Aura® Presence Services 6.0.x, 6.1.x Low Upgrade to Presence Services 6.2 or later.
Avaya Proactive Contact 5.0.x Low Upgrade to Proactive Contact 5.1 or later.
Avaya Aura® Session Manager 1.x, 5.x, 6.0.x, 6.1.x, 6.2 Low Upgrade to Session Manager 6.2 SP1 or later.
Avaya Aura® SIP Enablement Services 5.2.x Low See recommended actions below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned.
Avaya Aura® System Manager 5.x, 6.0 thru 6.3.3 Low Upgade to System Manager 6.3.4 or later.
Avaya Aura® System Platform 1.x, 6.0.x, 6.2 Low System Platform 1.x, 6.0.x: Upgrade to System Platform 6.0.3 SP9 or 6.2.1 or later.
System Platform 6.2: Upgrade to System Platform 6.2.1 or later.
Avaya Aura® Communication Manager Utility Services 6.0.x, 6.1.x, 6.2 Low Upgrade to Utility Service 6.2 SP5 or later.
Avaya Voice Portal 5.0.x, 5.1 thru 5.1 SP2 Low Upgrade to Avaya Enterprise Linux for Voice Portal 5.1 SP3 and Voice Portal 5.1 SP3 or later.

Recommended Actions for System Products:
Avaya strongly recommends that customers follow networking and security best practices by implementing firewalls, ACLs, physical security or other appropriate access restrictions. Though Avaya believes such restrictions should always be in place, risk to Avaya products and the surrounding network from this potential vulnerability may be mitigated by ensuring these practices are implemented until such time as an Avaya provided product update or the recommended Avaya action is applied. Further restrictions as deemed necessary based on the customer's security policies may be required during this interim period, but customers should not modify the System Product operating system or application unless the change is approved by Avaya. Making changes that are not approved may void the Avaya product service contract.

Mitigating Factors:

When determining risk, Avaya takes into account many factors as outlined by Avaya's Security Vulnerability Classification Policy. The following table describes factors that mitigate the risk of specific vulnerabilities for affected Avaya products:

Vulnerability Mitigating Factors
CVE-2012-2136
The risk is rated Low because Avaya products do not use or enable TUN/TAP kernel module by default.

3. Avaya Software-Only Products:

Avaya software-only products operate on general-purpose operating systems. Occasionally vulnerabilities may be discovered in the underlying operating system or applications that come with the operating system. These vulnerabilities often do not impact the software-only product directly but may threaten the integrity of the underlying platform.

In the case of this advisory Avaya software-only products are not affected by the vulnerability directly but the underlying Linux platform may be. Customers should determine on which Linux operating system the product was installed and then follow that vendor's guidance.

Product: Actions:
Avaya Aura® Application Enablement Services 4.x/5.x Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the AES application.
CVLAN Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the CVLAN application.
Avaya Aura® Experience Portal Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the EP application.
Avaya Integrated Management Suite (IMS) Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the IMS application.
Avaya Aura® Presence Services Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the PS application.
Avaya Secure Access Link Gateway Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the SAL Gateway application.
Avaya Aura® System Manager 1.0 Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the SMGR application.
Avaya Voice Portal Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the VP application.

Recommended Actions for Software-Only Products:
In the event that the affected package is installed, Avaya recommends that customers follow recommended actions supplied by Red Hat regarding their Enterprise Linux.

4. Additional Information:

Additional information may also be available via the Avaya support website and through your Avaya account representative. Please contact your Avaya product support representative, or dial 1-800-242-2121, with any questions.

5. Disclaimer:

ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS". AVAYA INC., ON BEHALF ITSELF AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS "AVAYA"), DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FURTHERMORE, AVAYA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT THE STEPS RECOMMENDED WILL ELIMINATE SECURITY OR VIRUS THREATS TO CUSTOMERS' SYSTEMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AVAYA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION OR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS PROVIDED HEREIN, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, STATUTORY, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF AVAYA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT AFFECT THE SUPPORT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS. SUPPORT FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO BE EXECUTED AS PER EXISTING AGREEMENTS WITH AVAYA.

6. Revision History:

V 1.0 - July 19, 2012 - Initial Statement issued.
V 1.1 - October 16, 2012 - Reduced the risk rating of Voice Portal to Low, because it does not use TUN/TAP kernel module by default.
V 1.2 - October 22, 2012 - No changes. Republishing only.
V 2.0 - July 22, 2015 - Updated AES, AS5300, IQ, CM, CS1000,Conferencing SE, IPOAS, Messaging, PS, PC, Session Manager, System Manager, SP, CMUS, and VP affected versions and actions. Set advisory status to final.

Send information regarding any discovered security problems with Avaya products to either the contact noted in the product's documentation or securityalerts@avaya.com.

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