mod_ssl security update

Updated mod_ssl packages are now available for Red Hat Advanced Server.
These updates incorporate a fix for an incorrect bounds check in versions
of mod_ssl up to and including version 2.8.9.

The mod_ssl module provides strong cryptography for the Apache Web
server via the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security
(TLS) protocols. Versions of mod_ssl prior to 2.8.10 are subject to a
single NULL overflow that can cause arbitrary code execution.

In order to exploit this vulnerability, the Apache Web server has to be
configured to allow overriding of configuration settings on a per-directory
basis, and untrusted local users must be able to modify a directory in
which the server is configured to allow overriding. The local attacker may
then become the user that Apache is running as (usually 'www' or 'nobody').

Note that regardless of this bug, local users can obtain the same
privileges if the server is configured to allow them to create CGI scripts
which run as the Web server user, or if PHP is enabled but not configured
in "safe mode".

The errata packages contain versions of mod_ssl that have been patched and
are not vulnerable to this issue.

Please note that you must restart the httpd daemon to use the updated
module. For instructions on doing this, see the bottom of the Solutions
section below.

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

Please note that this update is available via Red Hat Network. 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.

After the appropriate updates have been applied, it will be necessary to
manually restart the server with the following command:

/sbin/service httpd restart

http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2002-0653
http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=apache-modssl&m=102491918531562

mod_ssl, overflow