Security researchers have discovered a serious security flaw in Linux kernel that would appear to have existed since 2009. The vulnerability, CVE-2017-2636, rated ‘high’ on the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) could allow local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service. According to The Hacker News, it affects a large number of Linux distributors, including Red Hat, Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu. Users are advised to install the latest security updates right away. The discovery was made by Alex Popov of Positive Technologies. Patrick Carey, is a director at Black Duck Software commented below.
“This vulnerability disclosure has all the traits that make open source vulnerability management challenging for almost every team that builds or runs software today. Firstly, it’s a security flaw in a widely used open source component, in this case the Linux kernel itself. Secondly, the vulnerability has existed in the code for several years. Thirdly, it was discovered by a professional security researcher, not by an off-the-shelf static or dynamic application security tool. And fourthly, the only way most Linux users will know about it is if they are actively monitoring the NVD or a security feed from their Linux provider.”
“Given this, it’s highly likely that thousands of systems remain un-patched and vulnerable. With nearly 10 vulnerabilities like this being disclosed every week across over 2 million open source projects, if organisations aren’t making a concerted effort to track and manage their open source, they are leaving the door wide open for exploit.”
ISBuzz Team embodies the collaborative efforts of the dedicated staff at Information Security Buzz, converging a wide range of skills and viewpoints to present a unified, engaging voice in the information security realm. This entity isn't tied to a single individual; instead, it's a dynamic embodiment of a team diligently working behind the scenes to keep you updated and secure. When you read a post from ISBuzz Team, you're receiving the most relevant and actionable insights, curated and crafted by professionals tuned in to the pulse of the cybersecurity world. ISBuzz Team - your reliable compass in the fast-evolving landscape of information security
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.