1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-3220-3

USN-3220-3: Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerability

Publication date

9 March 2017

Overview

The system could be made to crash or run programs as an administrator.

Releases

Packages

  • linux-aws - Linux kernel for Amazon Web Services (AWS) systems

Details

USN-3220-1 fixed a vulnerability in the Linux kernel. This update
provides the corresponding updates for the Linux kernel for Amazon
Web Services (AWS).

Alexander Popov discovered that the N_HDLC line discipline implementation
in the Linux kernel contained a double-free vulnerability. A local attacker
could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly gain
administrative privileges.

USN-3220-1 fixed a vulnerability in the Linux kernel. This update
provides the corresponding updates for the Linux kernel for Amazon
Web Services (AWS).

Alexander Popov discovered that the N_HDLC line discipline implementation
in the Linux kernel contained a double-free vulnerability. A local attacker
could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly gain
administrative privileges.

Update instructions

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed. Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages (e.g. linux-generic, linux-generic-lts-RELEASE, linux-virtual, linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform this as well.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
16.04 xenial linux-image-4.4.0-1007-aws –  4.4.0-1007.16

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References

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