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Red Hat Security Advisory

Synopsis: Updated less package fixes security issue
Advisory ID: RHSA-2005:068-01
Advisory URL: https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2005-068.html
Issue date: 2005-01-26
Updated on: 2005-01-26
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux
CVE Names: CAN-2005-0086
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1. Summary:

An updated less package that fixes segmentation fault when viewing binary files is now available.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 - i386, ia64, ppc, s390, s390x, x86_64
Red Hat Desktop version 3 - i386, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 - i386, ia64, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 - i386, ia64, x86_64

3. Problem description:

The less utility is a text file browser that resembles more, but has extended capabilities.



Victor Ashik discovered a heap based buffer overflow in less, caused by a patch added to the less package in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3. An attacker could construct a carefully crafted file that could cause less to crash or possibly execute arbitrary code when opened. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CAN-2005-0086 to this issue. Note that this issue only affects the version of less distributed with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.

Red Hat believes that the Exec-Shield technology (enabled by default since Update 3) will block attempts to remotely exploit this vulnerability on x86 architectures.

All users of the less package should upgrade to this updated package, which resolves this issue.

4. Solution:

Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied.

To update all RPMs for your particular architecture, run:

rpm -Fvh [filenames]

where [filenames] is a list of the RPMs you wish to upgrade. Only those RPMs which are currently installed will be updated. Those RPMs which are not installed but included in the list will not be updated. Note that you can also use wildcards (*.rpm) if your current directory *only* contains the desired RPMs.

Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many people find this an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat Network, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command:

up2date

This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system.

5. Bug IDs fixed (http://bugzilla.redhat.com/):

145527 - CAN-2005-0086 less crashes on scrolling of binary files

6. RPMs required:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3:

SRPMS:
ftp://updates.redhat.com/enterprise/3AS/en/os/SRPMS/less-378-12.src.rpm
00632a5f0e1bfc0e752251700537b74e less-378-12.src.rpm

i386:
2966089410f98b11a3e5580ab1c2a41d less-378-12.i386.rpm

ia64:
144c0b176f93cc9962928d87d262c14d less-378-12.ia64.rpm

ppc:
01a9360e6bca2675788d7d62900cadef less-378-12.ppc.rpm

s390:
75dcd61eb532e06b0d3948694e8a831f less-378-12.s390.rpm

s390x:
2c5755559a11e4ab36726db10f8c005c less-378-12.s390x.rpm

x86_64:
8dd24b870a1ce118bcddff29e0a94074 less-378-12.x86_64.rpm

Red Hat Desktop version 3:

SRPMS:
ftp://updates.redhat.com/enterprise/3desktop/en/os/SRPMS/less-378-12.src.rpm
00632a5f0e1bfc0e752251700537b74e less-378-12.src.rpm

i386:
2966089410f98b11a3e5580ab1c2a41d less-378-12.i386.rpm

x86_64:
8dd24b870a1ce118bcddff29e0a94074 less-378-12.x86_64.rpm

Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3:

SRPMS:
ftp://updates.redhat.com/enterprise/3ES/en/os/SRPMS/less-378-12.src.rpm
00632a5f0e1bfc0e752251700537b74e less-378-12.src.rpm

i386:
2966089410f98b11a3e5580ab1c2a41d less-378-12.i386.rpm

ia64:
144c0b176f93cc9962928d87d262c14d less-378-12.ia64.rpm

x86_64:
8dd24b870a1ce118bcddff29e0a94074 less-378-12.x86_64.rpm

Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3:

SRPMS:
ftp://updates.redhat.com/enterprise/3WS/en/os/SRPMS/less-378-12.src.rpm
00632a5f0e1bfc0e752251700537b74e less-378-12.src.rpm

i386:
2966089410f98b11a3e5580ab1c2a41d less-378-12.i386.rpm

ia64:
144c0b176f93cc9962928d87d262c14d less-378-12.ia64.rpm

x86_64:
8dd24b870a1ce118bcddff29e0a94074 less-378-12.x86_64.rpm

These packages are GPG signed by Red Hat for security. Our key and details on how to verify the signature are available from https://www.redhat.com/security/team/key/#package

7. References:

http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2005-0086

8. Contact:

The Red Hat security contact is . More contact details at https://www.redhat.com/security/team/contact/

Copyright 2005 Red Hat, Inc.