Python 2.6.8/2.7.5/3.3.2 imaplib readline memory allocation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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7.2$0-$5k0.00

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Python 2.6.8/2.7.5/3.3.2 (Programming Language Software). This affects the function readline of the component imaplib. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory allocation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-789. The product allocates memory based on an untrusted, large size value, but it does not ensure that the size is within expected limits, allowing arbitrary amounts of memory to be allocated. This is going to have an impact on availability.

The weakness was released 09/25/2012 by Christian Heimes with OUSPG as Issue16039 as confirmed bug report (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at bugs.python.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2013-1752 since 02/15/2013. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The advisory points out:

An erroneous or malicious IMAP server can trick the imaplib module to consume large amounts of memory.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 75315 (openSUSE Security Update : python3 (openSUSE-SU-2014:0498-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family SuSE Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 350081 (Amazon Linux Security Advisory for python26: ALAS-2015-621).

Upgrading to version 2.6.9 or 3.3.3 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at hg.python.org. A possible mitigation has been published 6 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability. The bug report contains the following remark:

The imaplib module should be modified to use limited readline() with _MAXLINE like the httplib module. RFC 3501 and 2060 (IMAP 4rev1) don't specify a line length RFC 2683 says: "A client should limit the length of the command lines it generates to approximately 1000 octets. For ist part, a server should allow for a command line of at least 8000 octets." Some config files and code have values between 2k and 64k, usually around 8k to 10k (…)

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (75315). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at 11628, 11629, 11630 and 11632.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
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VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory allocation
CWE: CWE-789 / CWE-400 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

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Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 75315
Nessus Name: openSUSE Security Update : python3 (openSUSE-SU-2014:0498-1)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
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OpenVAS ID: 65811
OpenVAS Name: VMSA-2014-0012: VMware vSphere product updates address security vulnerabilities
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

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Upgrade: Python 2.6.9/3.3.3

Timelineinfo

09/25/2012 🔍
02/15/2013 +143 days 🔍
02/26/2013 +11 days 🔍
07/09/2013 +133 days 🔍
12/27/2013 +171 days 🔍
12/27/2013 +0 days 🔍
06/13/2014 +167 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: Issue16039
Researcher: Christian Heimes
Organization: OUSPG
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2013-1752 (🔍)
OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 61050 - Google Chrome CVE-2013-2877 Out of Bounds Denial of Service Vulnerability
OSVDB: 101384

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 12/27/2013 18:19
Changes: 12/27/2013 18:19 (73)
Complete: 🔍

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