[QSA-0219221] Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Qlustar Security Advisory 0219221

February 19th, 2022


Summary:

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


Package(s)       : linux-image-ql-generic,
                   qlustar-module-core-bionic-amd64-11.0.1,
                   qlustar-module-core-focal-amd64-12.0.0,
                   qlustar-module-core-centos7-amd64-12.0.0,
                   qlustar-module-core-centos8-amd64-12.0.0
Qlustar releases : 11.0, 12.0
Affected versions: All versions prior to this update
Vulnerability    : privilege escalation/denial of service
Problem type     : local
Qlustar-specific : no
CVE Id(s)        : Not documented

A number of vulnerabilities and bugs have been discovered in the 5.4.x Linux kernel series since the last Qlustar 12.0 release based on 5.4.167. They may lead to a denial of service or privilege escalation. Please check the following web pages that contain details of the fixes in each release after 5.4.167 up to the current Qlustar kernel 5.4.180:

Linux kernel 5.4.180
Linux kernel 5.4.179
Linux kernel 5.4.178
Linux kernel 5.4.177
Linux kernel 5.4.176
Linux kernel 5.4.175
Linux kernel 5.4.174
Linux kernel 5.4.173
Linux kernel 5.4.172
Linux kernel 5.4.171
Linux kernel 5.4.170
Linux kernel 5.4.169
Linux kernel 5.4.168

A number of vulnerabilities and bugs have been discovered in the 4.19.x Linux kernel series since the last Qlustar 11.0 release based on 4.19.221. They may lead to a denial of service or privilege escalation. Please check the following web pages that contain details of the fixes in each release after 4.19.221 up to the current Qlustar kernel 4.19.229:

Linux kernel 4.19.229
Linux kernel 4.19.228
Linux kernel 4.19.227
Linux kernel 4.19.226
Linux kernel 4.19.225
Linux kernel 4.19.224
Linux kernel 4.19.223
Linux kernel 4.19.222

Update instructions:

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

For Qlustar 12.0

linux-image-ql-generic                     5.4.180-ql-generic-12.0-14
qlustar-module-core-focal-amd64-12.0.0     12.0.0.9-b547f1429
qlustar-module-core-centos7-amd64-12.0.0   12.0.0.9-b547f1429
qlustar-module-core-centos8-amd64-12.0.0   12.0.0.9-b547f1429

For Qlustar 11.0

linux-image-ql-generic                     4.19.229-ql-generic-11.0-29
qlustar-module-core-bionic-amd64-11.0.1    11.0.1.13-b543f1428

Special Update instructions:

In addition to the steps described in the general Qlustar Update Instructions these updates require the following:

  • On Qlustar 12: Also write the dnsmasq config with QluMan before rebooting. If your cluster was installed with a release earlier than 12.0.0.8-b546f1425 you will have to generate new LDAP certificates at some point since the earlier ones were generated with a 1 year validity. Now they are generated with an unlimited validity. To check the expiration date execute
    # openssl x509 -dates -in /etc/ssl/certs/qlustar-ca-cert.pem | grep notAfter
    

    To regenerate the certificate with unlimited validity execute

    # qluman-ldap-cli --update-certs
    

    before rebooting the whole cluster.

  • On Qlustar 11: Also perform the manual steps ‘7. Migration to GRUB PXE booting’ and ‘11. Adjust root bash shell initialization’ as described in the Release Notes if you haven’t done so yet.