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USN-4712-1: Linux kernel regression

2 February 2021

USN-4576-1 introduced a regression in the Linux kernel.

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Releases

Packages

Details

USN-4576-1 fixed a vulnerability in the overlay file system
implementation in the Linux kernel. Unfortunately, that fix introduced
a regression that could incorrectly deny access to overlay files in
some situations. This update fixes the problem.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Original vulnerability details:

Giuseppe Scrivano discovered that the overlay file system in the Linux
kernel did not properly perform permission checks in some situations. A
local attacker could possibly use this to bypass intended restrictions and
gain read access to restricted files.

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

Learn more about Ubuntu Pro

Update instructions

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

Ubuntu 20.10
Ubuntu 20.04
Ubuntu 18.04

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

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.