Hole In Linux Kernel Provides Root Rights

oztiks writes with this excerpt from The H: "A vulnerability in the 32-bit compatibility mode of the current Linux kernel (and previous versions) for 64-bit systems can be exploited to escalate privileges. For instance, attackers can break into a system and exploit a hole in the web server to get complete root (also known as superuser) rights or permissions for a victim's system. According to a report, the problem occurs because the 32-bit call emulation layer does not check whether the call is truly in the Syscall table. Ben Hawkes, who discovered the problem, says the vulnerability can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with kernel rights. ... Hawkes says the vulnerability was discovered and remedied back in 2007, but at some point in 2008 kernel developers apparently removed the patch, reintroducing the vulnerability. The older exploit apparently only needed slight modifications to work with the new hole."

Comments

Serve them right

[Anonymous Coward]

That's why those of us in the know stick to 8-bit Linux kernal.

Re:Serve them right

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought that was because you were a pretentious wanker?

Re:Serve them right

[jamesh]

And those even more in the know use a two-bit operating system like Windows :)

Patch

[Anonymous Coward]

For those who compile from source, here is the patch:

---kernel.c
+++kernel.c
@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
- void goatse(long cx) {
+ void goatse(int cx) {

The change from long to int closes the massive hole.

Error in title

[Anonymous Coward]

Root is a privilege, not a right.

code comments?

[Cyko_01]

Hawkes says the vulnerability was discovered and remedied back in 2007, but at some point in 2008 kernel developers apparently removed the patch, reintroducing the vulnerability

and this, my friends, is why we add comments to our code

Re:Unit Tests

[mysidia]

The test doesn't have to detect exploitability, only that the bug is still present (or not).