CVE-2014-4616

Description

A flaw was found in the way the json module handled negative index argument passed to certain functions (such as raw_decode()). An attacker able to control index value passed to one of the affected functions could possibly use this flaw to disclose portions of the application memory.

Statement

This issue affects the versions of python as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, the versions of python-simplejson as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6, and the versions of python33-python and python33-python-simplejson as shipped with Red Hat Software Collections. Red Hat Product Security has rated this issue as having Moderate security impact. Future updates may address this issue. For additional information, refer to the Issue Severity Classification: https://access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/.

Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details

Info alert:Important note

CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).

CVSS v2 Score Breakdown

Red HatNVDcve.org
Base Score44.3N/A
Attack VectorNetworkNetworkN/A
Access ComplexityHighMediumN/A
AuthenticationNoneNoneN/A
Confidentiality ImpactPartialPartialN/A
Integrity ImpactNoneNoneN/A
Availability ImpactPartialNoneN/A

Vector

Red Hat: AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:P

NVD: AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

Confidentiality

Technical Impact: Read Memory

For an out-of-bounds read, the attacker may have access to sensitive information. If the sensitive information contains system details, such as the current buffer's position in memory, this knowledge can be used to craft further attacks, possibly with more severe consequences.

Integrity,Availability

Technical Impact: Modify Memory; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

Out of bounds memory access will very likely result in the corruption of relevant memory, and perhaps instructions, possibly leading to a crash.

Integrity

Technical Impact: Modify Memory; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

If the corrupted memory can be effectively controlled, it may be possible to execute arbitrary code. If the corrupted memory is data rather than instructions, the system will continue to function with improper changes, possibly in violation of an implicit or explicit policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

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