sctp: do not reset the packet during sctp_packet_config
CVE: CVE-2010-3432
Component: kernel
CWE: CWE-119
Severity: Important
Release date: 2010-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

The sctp_packet_config function in net/sctp/output.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.35.6 performs extraneous initializations of packet data structures, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (panic) via a certain sequence of SCTP traffic.

Statement: This issue did not affect the version of Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 as it did not include support for SCTP. This was addressed in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG via https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0958.html and https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0842.html. Future updates in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5 may address this flaw.

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

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh [package]". Do not
use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove the running kernel binaries from
your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after
determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.
Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh [package]". Do not
use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove the running kernel binaries from
your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after
determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.
Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh [package]". Do not
use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove the running kernel binaries from
your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after
determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.
Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh [package]". Do not
use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove the running kernel binaries from
your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after
determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.
For users that do not run applications that use SCTP, you can prevent the sctp module from being loaded by adding the following entry to the end of the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file:

blacklist sctp

This way, the sctp module cannot be loaded accidentally, which may occur if an application that requires SCTP is started. A reboot is not necessary for this change to take effect.