[ GLSA 200502-09 ] Python: Arbitrary code execution through SimpleXMLRPCServer

[Thierry Carrez <koon () gentoo org>]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200502-09
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: High
     Title: Python: Arbitrary code execution through SimpleXMLRPCServer
      Date: February 08, 2005
      Bugs: #80592
        ID: 200502-09

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Synopsis
========

Python-based XML-RPC servers may be vulnerable to remote execution of
arbitrary code.

Background
==========

Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, cross-platform
programming language.

Affected packages
=================

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package          /  Vulnerable  /                      Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  dev-lang/python      <= 2.3.4                         >= 2.3.4-r1
                                                          *>= 2.3.3-r2
                                                          *>= 2.2.3-r6

Description
===========

Graham Dumpleton discovered that XML-RPC servers making use of the
SimpleXMLRPCServer library that use the register_instance() method to
register an object without a _dispatch() method are vulnerable to a
flaw allowing to read or modify globals of the associated module.

Impact
======

A remote attacker may be able to exploit the flaw in such XML-RPC
servers to execute arbitrary code on the server host with the rights of
the XML-RPC server.

Workaround
==========

Python users that don't make use of any SimpleXMLRPCServer-based
XML-RPC servers, or making use of servers using only the
register_function() method are not affected.

Resolution
==========

All Python users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose dev-lang/python

References
==========

  [ 1 ] CAN-2005-0089
        http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2005-0089
  [ 2 ] Python PSF-2005-001
        http://www.python.org/security/PSF-2005-001/

Availability
============

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200502-09.xml

Concerns?
=========

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security () gentoo org or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2005 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text
belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

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