In today’s landscape, as cyberattacks become increasingly advanced, outdated systems continue to pose significant risks. Implementing security patches is crucial for addressing these vulnerabilities, safeguarding sensitive information, and maintaining system reliability. By addressing bugs and mitigating the threat of ransomware, timely patching emerges as one of the most effective defenses an organization can adopt.
What Is Patching?
Patching involves updating software, operating systems, or applications to fix bugs, improve functionality, or tackle security concerns. These updates are essential for maintaining the stability, performance, and security of IT systems.
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Types of Patching
Patching can be categorized into several types, including:
Security Patches: Fix known vulnerabilities to prevent exploitation by attackers.
Bug Fixes: Resolve issues related to functionality or performance in software.
Feature Updates: Introduce new features or improve existing ones.
Compliance Patches: Ensure adherence to regulatory or organizational compliance standards.
What Is Security Patching?
Security patching is designed to address vulnerabilities in systems or software that hackers might exploit, helping to protect against malware, ransomware, and unauthorized access.
[ Also Read: How to Secure APIs in Microservices]
Why Is Security Patching Important?
Security patching is a vital IT process, as unpatched systems often become prime targets for cyberattacks. By ensuring regular and timely patching, we can:
- Decrease the attack surface.
- Avert data breaches and ransomware incidents.
- Foster customer trust by protecting sensitive information.
Step-by-Step Process for Security Patching
- Check Installed Package Version Before applying any patches, it's essential to identify the currently installed version of the package on the server. Use the following command:
rpm -q package-name
Explanation: This command queries the RPM database to find out the installed version of the specified package, allowing for a comparison with the latest version available in repositories.
2. Check for Available Updates in Repository
To see if there's an update available for your package, run the following command:
yum list available package-name
What it does:
This command shows the latest version of the package that's available in your configured YUM repositories. If an update is found, it means you can apply a patch by upgrading the package.
3. Check for Duplicate or Alternate Package Names
On occasion, packages may be listed under different names or there could be several versions available. To check for this, use:
yum list --showduplicates package-name
What it does:
This command lists all available versions of the package in the repository. By doing this, you ensure that you don’t miss any versions and that you upgrade the correct package.
[ Also Read: Cloud Security Posture Management – How to Stay Compliant]
4. Verify Patch Status Using Changelog
Even if you don’t need a newer version, it’s possible that the specific CVE has already been resolved in your currently installed version. To check this, use:
rpm -q --changelog package-name | grep CVE-ID
What it does:
The --changelog option displays the changelog entries for the package. Looking for the specific CVE will tell you if the vulnerability has already been fixed in your installed version.
5. Use ALAS (Amazon Linux Advisory Service) for CVE Reference
For Amazon Linux, you’ll want to track security updates using ALAS (Amazon Linux AMI Security Advisories). ALAS offers detailed insights into vulnerabilities, the affected versions of packages, and the patches you should apply.
Instructions:
- Determine your OS version (either Amazon Linux 2 or Amazon Linux 2023).
- Look up the CVE ID in ALAS to find the suggested package version or the command needed to apply the patch.
- Execute the provided command to ensure that the specific CVE is addressed.
6. Apply Package Upgrade
Once you've identified the necessary patch version, you can upgrade the package using the package manager with the following command:
yum update package-name -y
What it does:
This command updates your installed package to the latest version available in the repository. The -y option automatically confirms the update for you.
Note:
For Amazon Linux 2 or 2023, the ALAS advisory typically offers the precise command to apply the security patch. For Amazon Linux 2023, you may need to use dnf instead of yum.
You can check more info about: What is Security Patching.
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