Python Unicode string processing buffer overflow

python-unicode-bo (44170)

High Risk

Description:

Python is vulnerable to multiple buffer overflows, caused by an integer overflow during Unicode string processing on 32bit platforms. By sending an overly long string to the application using an unspecified attack vector, a remote attacker could overflow a buffer and execute arbitrary code on the system with elevated privileges or cause the application to crash.

Platforms Affected:

• Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.11
• Apple, Mac OS X 10.5.6
• Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.11
• Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.5.6
• Canonical, Ubuntu 6.06 LTS
• Canonical, Ubuntu 7.04
• Canonical, Ubuntu 7.10
• Canonical, Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
• Debian, Debian Linux 4.0
• Gentoo, Linux
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2007.1 X86_64
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2007.1
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.0 X86_64
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.0
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.1
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.1 X86_64
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 4.0 X86_64
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 4.0
• Python Software Foundation, Python 1.5.2
• Python Software Foundation, Python 1.6
• Python Software Foundation, Python 1.6.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.0
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.0.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.1.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.1.2
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.1.3
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.2
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.2.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.2.2
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.2.3
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3.2
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3.3
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3.4
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3.5
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3.6
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.3.7
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.4
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.4.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.4.2
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.4.3
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.4.4
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.4.5
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.5
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.5.1
• Python Software Foundation, Python 2.5.2

Remedy:

Refer to GLSA 200807-16 for patch, upgrade or suggested workaround information. See References.

For other distributions:
Apply the appropriate update for your system. See References.

Consequences:

Gain Access

References:

• Apple Web site, About the security content of Security Update 2009-001 at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3438.
• Gentoo Bugzilla Bug 232137, dev-lang/python Multiple vulnerabilities (CVE-2008-{3142,3143,3144}) at http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=232137.
• Python Bugs: Issue 2620, Multiple buffer overflows in unicode processing at http://bugs.python.org/issue2620.
• Python Web site, Python Programming Language -- Official Website at http://www.python.org/.
• BID-30491: Python Multiple Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities
• CVE-2008-3142: Multiple buffer overflows in Python 2.5.2 and earlier on 32bit platforms allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or have unspecified other impact via a long string that leads to incorrect memory allocation during Unicode string processing, related to the unicode_resize function and the PyMem_RESIZE macro.
• DSA-1667: python2.4 -- several vulnerabilities
• GLSA 200807-16: Python: Multiple vulnerabilities
• GLSA-200807-16: Python: Multiple vulnerabilities
• MDVSA-2008:163: python
• MDVSA-2008:164: python
• SA31305: Python Multiple Vulnerabilities
• SA33937: Apple Mac OS X Security Update Fixes Multiple Vulnerabilities
• SUSE-SR:2008:017: SUSE Security Summary Report
• USN-632-1: Python vulnerabilities
• VUPEN/ADV-2008-2288: Python Multiple Module Buffer and Integer Overflow Vulnerabilities

Reported:

Jul 31, 2008

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For corrections or additions please email xforce@iss.net

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