[QSA-0524221] Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Qlustar Security Advisory 0524221

May 24th, 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 5.4.188. 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 5.4.188 up to the current Qlustar kernel 5.4.195:

Linux kernel 5.4.195
Linux kernel 5.4.194
Linux kernel 5.4.193
Linux kernel 5.4.192
Linux kernel 5.4.191
Linux kernel 5.4.190
Linux kernel 5.4.189

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 4.19.237. 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 4.19.237 up to the current Qlustar kernel 4.19.244:

Linux kernel 4.19.244
Linux kernel 4.19.243
Linux kernel 4.19.242
Linux kernel 4.19.241
Linux kernel 4.19.240
Linux kernel 4.19.239
Linux kernel 4.19.238

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                     5.4.195-ql-generic-12.0-17
qlustar-module-core-focal-amd64-12.0.0     12.0.0.11-b547f1433
qlustar-module-core-centos7-amd64-12.0.0   12.0.0.11-b547f1433
qlustar-module-core-centos8-amd64-12.0.0   12.0.0.11-b547f1433

For Qlustar 11.0

linux-image-ql-generic                     4.19.244-ql-generic-11.0-31
qlustar-module-core-bionic-amd64-11.0.1    11.0.1.15-b543f1435

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 and slurm 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.