RHSA-2009:1177 - Security Advisory

Topic

Updated python packages that fix multiple security issues are now available
for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.

This update has been rated as having moderate security impact by the Red
Hat Security Response Team.

Description

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

When the assert() system call was disabled, an input sanitization flaw was
revealed in the Python string object implementation that led to a buffer
overflow. The missing check for negative size values meant the Python
memory allocator could allocate less memory than expected. This could
result in arbitrary code execution with the Python interpreter's
privileges. (CVE-2008-1887)

Multiple buffer and integer overflow flaws were found in the Python Unicode
string processing and in the Python Unicode and string object
implementations. An attacker could use these flaws to cause a denial of
service (Python application crash). (CVE-2008-3142, CVE-2008-5031)

Multiple integer overflow flaws were found in the Python imageop module. If
a Python application used the imageop module to process untrusted images,
it could cause the application to crash or, potentially, execute arbitrary
code with the Python interpreter's privileges. (CVE-2008-1679,
CVE-2008-4864)

Multiple integer underflow and overflow flaws were found in the Python
snprintf() wrapper implementation. An attacker could use these flaws to
cause a denial of service (memory corruption). (CVE-2008-3144)

Multiple integer overflow flaws were found in various Python modules. An
attacker could use these flaws to cause a denial of service (Python
application crash). (CVE-2008-2315, CVE-2008-3143)

An integer signedness error, leading to a buffer overflow, was found
in the Python zlib extension module. If a Python application requested
the negative byte count be flushed for a decompression stream, it could
cause the application to crash or, potentially, execute arbitrary code
with the Python interpreter's privileges. (CVE-2008-1721)

Red Hat would like to thank David Remahl of the Apple Product Security team
for responsibly reporting the CVE-2008-1679 and CVE-2008-2315 issues.

All Python users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain
backported patches to correct these issues.

Solution

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

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 4.8 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 4.8 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 4.8 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support 4.8 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support 4.8 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 4 ppc
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian - Extended Update Support 4.8 ppc

Fixes

• BZ - 441306 - CVE-2008-1679 python: imageop module integer overflows
• BZ - 442005 - CVE-2008-1721 python: integer signedness error in the zlib extension module
• BZ - 443810 - CVE-2008-1887 python: PyString_FromStringAndSize does not check for negative size values
• BZ - 454990 - CVE-2008-3142 python: Multiple buffer overflows in unicode processing
• BZ - 455008 - CVE-2008-2315 python: Multiple integer overflows in python core
• BZ - 455013 - CVE-2008-3143 python: Multiple integer overflows discovered by Google
• BZ - 455018 - CVE-2008-3144 python: Potential integer underflow and overflow in the PyOS_vsnprintf C API function
• BZ - 469656 - CVE-2008-4864 python: imageop module multiple integer overflows
• BZ - 470915 - CVE-2008-5031 python: stringobject, unicodeobject integer overflows

CVEs

• CVE-2008-1887
• CVE-2008-3143
• CVE-2008-5031
• CVE-2008-3142
• CVE-2008-3144
• CVE-2008-2315
• CVE-2008-4864
• CVE-2008-1721
• CVE-2008-1679

References

• http://www.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/#moderate