The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system. This update fixes the following security issues: * A buffer overflow flaw was found in the load_mixer_volumes function in the Linux kernel"s Open Sound System sound driver. On 64-bit PowerPC systems, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges. * A missing boundary check was found in the dvb_ca_ioctl function in the Linux kernel"s av7110 module. On systems that use old DVB cards that require the av7110 module, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges. * A missing initialization flaw was found in the ethtool_get_regs function in the Linux kernel"s ethtool IOCTL handler. A local user who has the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability could use this flaw to cause an information leak. Red Hat would like to thank Dan Rosenberg for reporting CVE-2010-4527, and Kees Cook for reporting CVE-2010-4655. These updated kernel packages also fix hundreds of bugs and add numerous enhancements. For details on individual bug fixes and enhancements included in this update, refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.9 Release Notes, linked to in the References section. Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct these issues and add these enhancements. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.