Synopsis

Low: python security, bug fix, and enhancement update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory: Low

Topic

Updated python packages that fix multiple security issues, several bugs,
and add two enhancements are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having low
security impact. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base scores,
which give detailed severity ratings, are available for each vulnerability
from the CVE links in the References section.

Description

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

It was found that many applications embedding the Python interpreter did
not specify a valid full path to the script or application when calling the
PySys_SetArgv API function, which could result in the addition of the
current working directory to the module search path (sys.path). A local
attacker able to trick a victim into running such an application in an
attacker-controlled directory could use this flaw to execute code with the
victim's privileges. This update adds the PySys_SetArgvEx API. Developers
can modify their applications to use this new API, which sets sys.argv
without modifying sys.path. (CVE-2008-5983)

Multiple flaws were found in the Python rgbimg module. If an application
written in Python was using the rgbimg module and loaded a
specially-crafted SGI image file, it could cause the application to crash
or, possibly, execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user
running the application. (CVE-2009-4134, CVE-2010-1449, CVE-2010-1450)

Multiple flaws were found in the Python audioop module. Supplying certain
inputs could cause the audioop module to crash or, possibly, execute
arbitrary code. (CVE-2010-1634, CVE-2010-2089)

This update also fixes the following bugs:

• When starting a child process from the subprocess module in Python 2.4,
  the parent process could leak file descriptors if an error occurred. This
  update resolves the issue. (BZ#609017)
  
• Prior to Python 2.7, programs that used "ulimit -n" to enable
  communication with large numbers of subprocesses could still monitor only
  1024 file descriptors at a time, which caused an exception:
  

ValueError: filedescriptor out of range in select()

This was due to the subprocess module using the "select" system call. The
module now uses the "poll" system call, removing this limitation.
(BZ#609020)

• Prior to Python 2.5, the tarfile module failed to unpack tar files if the
  path was longer than 100 characters. This update backports the tarfile
  module from Python 2.5 and the issue no longer occurs. (BZ#263401)
  
• The email module incorrectly implemented the logic for obtaining
  attachment file names: the get_filename() fallback for using the deprecated
  "name" parameter of the "Content-Type" header erroneously used the
  "Content-Disposition" header. This update backports a fix from Python 2.6,
  which resolves this issue. (BZ#644147)
  
• Prior to version 2.5, Python's optimized memory allocator never released
  memory back to the system. The memory usage of a long-running Python
  process would resemble a "high-water mark". This update backports a fix
  from Python 2.5a1, which frees unused arenas, and adds a non-standard
  sys._debugmallocstats() function, which prints diagnostic information to
  stderr. Finally, when running under Valgrind, the optimized allocator is
  deactivated, to allow more convenient debugging of Python memory usage
  issues. (BZ#569093)
  
• The urllib and urllib2 modules ignored the no_proxy variable, which could
  lead to programs such as "yum" erroneously accessing a proxy server for
  URLs covered by a "no_proxy" exclusion. This update backports fixes of
  urllib and urllib2, which respect the "no_proxy" variable, which fixes
  these issues. (BZ#549372)
  

As well, this update adds the following enhancements:

• This update introduces a new python-libs package, subsuming the majority
  of the content of the core python package. This makes both 32-bit and
  64-bit Python libraries available on PowerPC systems. (BZ#625372)
  
• The python-libs.i386 package is now available for 64-bit Itanium with the
  32-bit Itanium compatibility mode. (BZ#644761)
  

All Python users are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which
contain backported patches to correct these issues and add these
enhancements.

Solution

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

This update is available via the 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 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 5 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 5 ppc
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 i386

Fixes

• BZ - 482814 - CVE-2008-5983 python: untrusted python modules search path
• BZ - 541698 - CVE-2009-4134 CVE-2010-1449 CVE-2010-1450 python: rgbimg: multiple security issues
• BZ - 569093 - Python 2.4's arena allocator does not release memory back to the system, leading to "high-water mark" memory usage
• BZ - 590690 - CVE-2010-1634 python: audioop: incorrect integer overflow checks
• BZ - 598197 - CVE-2010-2089 Python: Memory corruption in audioop module
• BZ - 609017 - subprocess leaves open fds on construction error
• BZ - 609020 - subprocess fails in select when descriptors are large
• BZ - 625372 - split python-libs subpackage
• BZ - 644147 - Patch for get_filename in email.message when content-disposition is missing
• BZ - 644761 - python-libs conflict on ia64 compatlayer

CVEs

• CVE-2010-1634
• CVE-2010-1450
• CVE-2009-4134
• CVE-2010-2089
• CVE-2008-5983
• CVE-2010-1449

References

• https://access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/#low

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5

SRPM
python-2.4.3-43.el5.src.rpm	SHA-256: f8bcae6fbe331bca9e3748e3857aa5bbec6aa3226ce2af6b3d3c7346d9141396
x86_64
python-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: d13efad156565d8c59e7c37f4e608a8b1c210dd6b9d8db6723a1e3210f80731e
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 22836bc2ceee60305782cbfc00874d384598654ba87ecc1cc90f49c7255216d4
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 59c3f34c411dfbbbbd61dd63e51bc31c7740ccffe29b045f70bdb9b5c73a239d
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 2cde5807b521c6d5d8ae67dc06e86bd8809b61d3e70cc138eda9b864e83e4cb8
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: ff29147e60eb588f0da2ea21c5d870e63b41076de53531277898e47ac1d292dd
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 69a71a6692ef44e0420395768cf0832581673694d291f33ce7d0108ec04321a4
ia64
python-2.4.3-43.el5.ia64.rpm	SHA-256: 3172f802d8b3e5ed166fdd7d70e7daab9084f6afe1b9fc2aa736d02cd57acbe0
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.ia64.rpm	SHA-256: 93696926782abaa779962bc378dcf9698ebf606e54b6d3a6f5dd798ed4ff00bf
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: adf775a639ce1c97aa66e67df779baacdf13fe6c3c796fa87996e3e915fc613d
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.ia64.rpm	SHA-256: 5f97414a3d7014c5acd8a103177261fdbc1fc31e69953c819c6cdd0de71f374e
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.ia64.rpm	SHA-256: 0031eee7e5154243377da204a5d7800ad3e789138aaebf347f0ba088310bf5d9
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.ia64.rpm	SHA-256: a652c1b32f71bc6e69a88123a47b7b4e0120eb8f7fe8fe990d834a371d546712
i386
python-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 570f15a428f02d598ff13228586a5f9b029a224418111aeb29ba0e8de17a1573
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 22836bc2ceee60305782cbfc00874d384598654ba87ecc1cc90f49c7255216d4
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: adf775a639ce1c97aa66e67df779baacdf13fe6c3c796fa87996e3e915fc613d
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 8027f8cf99ea5646f94d33046e6f6e32b99b5b10e5944d63d40f5bbbe20d69b0
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 4e2f4db9844e2d258d4e7a921b352c955a6d5e7336367138c7b0ac16148ba65f

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5

SRPM
python-2.4.3-43.el5.src.rpm	SHA-256: f8bcae6fbe331bca9e3748e3857aa5bbec6aa3226ce2af6b3d3c7346d9141396
x86_64
python-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: d13efad156565d8c59e7c37f4e608a8b1c210dd6b9d8db6723a1e3210f80731e
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 22836bc2ceee60305782cbfc00874d384598654ba87ecc1cc90f49c7255216d4
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 59c3f34c411dfbbbbd61dd63e51bc31c7740ccffe29b045f70bdb9b5c73a239d
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 2cde5807b521c6d5d8ae67dc06e86bd8809b61d3e70cc138eda9b864e83e4cb8
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: ff29147e60eb588f0da2ea21c5d870e63b41076de53531277898e47ac1d292dd
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 69a71a6692ef44e0420395768cf0832581673694d291f33ce7d0108ec04321a4
i386
python-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 570f15a428f02d598ff13228586a5f9b029a224418111aeb29ba0e8de17a1573
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 22836bc2ceee60305782cbfc00874d384598654ba87ecc1cc90f49c7255216d4
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: adf775a639ce1c97aa66e67df779baacdf13fe6c3c796fa87996e3e915fc613d
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 8027f8cf99ea5646f94d33046e6f6e32b99b5b10e5944d63d40f5bbbe20d69b0
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 4e2f4db9844e2d258d4e7a921b352c955a6d5e7336367138c7b0ac16148ba65f

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5

SRPM
python-2.4.3-43.el5.src.rpm	SHA-256: f8bcae6fbe331bca9e3748e3857aa5bbec6aa3226ce2af6b3d3c7346d9141396
x86_64
python-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: d13efad156565d8c59e7c37f4e608a8b1c210dd6b9d8db6723a1e3210f80731e
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 2cde5807b521c6d5d8ae67dc06e86bd8809b61d3e70cc138eda9b864e83e4cb8
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: ff29147e60eb588f0da2ea21c5d870e63b41076de53531277898e47ac1d292dd
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 69a71a6692ef44e0420395768cf0832581673694d291f33ce7d0108ec04321a4
i386
python-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 570f15a428f02d598ff13228586a5f9b029a224418111aeb29ba0e8de17a1573
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: adf775a639ce1c97aa66e67df779baacdf13fe6c3c796fa87996e3e915fc613d
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 8027f8cf99ea5646f94d33046e6f6e32b99b5b10e5944d63d40f5bbbe20d69b0
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 4e2f4db9844e2d258d4e7a921b352c955a6d5e7336367138c7b0ac16148ba65f

Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 5

SRPM
python-2.4.3-43.el5.src.rpm	SHA-256: f8bcae6fbe331bca9e3748e3857aa5bbec6aa3226ce2af6b3d3c7346d9141396
s390x
python-2.4.3-43.el5.s390x.rpm	SHA-256: 03df933fd53fc7e5b53b411fe66cfc550a10895a078df155173dcd98d48935a2
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.s390.rpm	SHA-256: 75f10d34226de676a099b70b34fdc59195071654082f60780176b16191c10377
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.s390x.rpm	SHA-256: f1895bc15461a7e778e7cf98a3effe1b57e24b354a511564a977f7d8ec47b202
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.s390x.rpm	SHA-256: 094dc1172be48a7075060222519d7ccae62e995860bb16976e2bc38f72d7ef61
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.s390x.rpm	SHA-256: e18bb4eff2787155ae3a7d53b6b721a62abc7323a13abdc25f2fbf3fb00c972d
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.s390x.rpm	SHA-256: f706ae4051f38217cc526b94c36ac420f5ee16fdfb99be414ac2fed75001662b

Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 5

SRPM
python-2.4.3-43.el5.src.rpm	SHA-256: f8bcae6fbe331bca9e3748e3857aa5bbec6aa3226ce2af6b3d3c7346d9141396
ppc
python-2.4.3-43.el5.ppc.rpm	SHA-256: 1ea102213e50f57c21f3642cea2058dc390dbdd1a8a326f24989a200ede36cc7
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.ppc.rpm	SHA-256: c4feaba7f782bd378c993e0927a97939ea0407b40abe3e9f4eefeff545ed0e26
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.ppc64.rpm	SHA-256: 9d97c8c0eb5b46befd2303334bc957d74ffa0caac811a4627788690bea188313
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.ppc.rpm	SHA-256: b696f90b327d3acfc1b7a2b9003424e78799249a662908c57a97a7f7a8a1df1c
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.ppc64.rpm	SHA-256: 483984d96be1b5a7795698512388698a3149bab17e4ae9d6c4524a4677b08c87
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.ppc.rpm	SHA-256: 77eddfe1e210c02ccce5cd90a5e61677ba7c35a6935b22f4e6bd1aac43036563
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.ppc.rpm	SHA-256: 19fc97ec5302a089f807216d99c1ab3204e966517e67a8d8bf1e9bd3391f38ec

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5

SRPM
python-2.4.3-43.el5.src.rpm	SHA-256: f8bcae6fbe331bca9e3748e3857aa5bbec6aa3226ce2af6b3d3c7346d9141396
x86_64
python-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: d13efad156565d8c59e7c37f4e608a8b1c210dd6b9d8db6723a1e3210f80731e
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 22836bc2ceee60305782cbfc00874d384598654ba87ecc1cc90f49c7255216d4
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 59c3f34c411dfbbbbd61dd63e51bc31c7740ccffe29b045f70bdb9b5c73a239d
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 2cde5807b521c6d5d8ae67dc06e86bd8809b61d3e70cc138eda9b864e83e4cb8
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: ff29147e60eb588f0da2ea21c5d870e63b41076de53531277898e47ac1d292dd
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.x86_64.rpm	SHA-256: 69a71a6692ef44e0420395768cf0832581673694d291f33ce7d0108ec04321a4
i386
python-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 570f15a428f02d598ff13228586a5f9b029a224418111aeb29ba0e8de17a1573
python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 22836bc2ceee60305782cbfc00874d384598654ba87ecc1cc90f49c7255216d4
python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: adf775a639ce1c97aa66e67df779baacdf13fe6c3c796fa87996e3e915fc613d
python-tools-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 8027f8cf99ea5646f94d33046e6f6e32b99b5b10e5944d63d40f5bbbe20d69b0
tkinter-2.4.3-43.el5.i386.rpm	SHA-256: 4e2f4db9844e2d258d4e7a921b352c955a6d5e7336367138c7b0ac16148ba65f