A Python security update has been released for Gentoo Linux

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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-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