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Red Hat: RHSA-2014-0789-01 Important: Python Mod_Wsgi Privilege Escalation

red hat
Calendar Grey June 25, 2014
Scroller Redhat
Important patch for python27-mod_wsgi and python33-mod_wsgi resolves significant security vulnerability in Red Hat environments.
Updated python27-mod_wsgi and python33-mod_wsgi packages that fix one security issue are now available for Red Hat Software Collections 1

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 https://access.redhat.com/site/articles/11258

Summary

The mod_wsgi adapter is an Apache module that provides a WSGI-compliant interface for hosting Python-based web applications within Apache.
It was found that mod_wsgi did not properly drop privileges if the call to setuid() failed. If mod_wsgi was set up to allow unprivileged users to run WSGI applications, a local user able to run a WSGI application could possibly use this flaw to escalate their privileges on the system. (CVE-2014-0240)
Note: mod_wsgi is not intended to provide privilege separation for WSGI applications. Systems relying on mod_wsgi to limit or sandbox the privileges of mod_wsgi applications should migrate to a different solution with proper privilege separation.
Red Hat would like to thank Graham Dumpleton for reporting this issue. Upstream acknowledges Róbert Kisteleki as the original reporter of this issue.
All python27-mod_wsgi and python33-mod_wsgi users are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which contain a backported patch to correct this issue.

References

https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-0240 https://access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/#important

Package List

Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6):
Source: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.src.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-3.4-14.el6.src.rpm
x86_64: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm python27-mod_wsgi-debuginfo-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-3.4-14.el6.x86_64.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-debuginfo-3.4-14.el6.x86_64.rpm
Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.3):
Source: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.src.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-3.4-14.el6.src.rpm
x86_64: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm python27-mod_wsgi-debuginfo-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-3.4-14.el6.x86_64.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-debuginfo-3.4-14.el6.x86_64.rpm
Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.4):
Source: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.src.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-3.4-14.el6.src.rpm
x86_64: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm python27-mod_wsgi-debuginfo-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-3.4-14.el6.x86_64.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-debuginfo-3.4-14.el6.x86_64.rpm
Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6):
Source: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.src.rpm python33-mod_wsgi-3.4-14.el6.src.rpm
x86_64: python27-mod_wsgi-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm python27-mod_wsgi-debuginfo-3.4-12.el6.x86_64.rpm

Read the Full Advisory


Severity
important
Lowest
Low
Medium
High
Critical

Advisory ID: RHSA-2014:0789-01
Product: Red Hat Software Collections
Issue date: 2014-06-25

Topic

Updated python27-mod_wsgi and python33-mod_wsgi packages that fix onesecurity issue are now available for Red Hat Software Collections 1.The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as havingImportant security impact. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)base score, which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from theCVE link in the References section.

Relevant Releases Architectures

Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) - x86_64

Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) - x86_64

Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.3) - x86_64

Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.4) - x86_64

Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) - x86_64

Red Hat Software Collections 1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) - x86_64

Bugs Fixed

1101863 - CVE-2014-0240 mod_wsgi: possible privilege escalation in setuid() failure scenarios

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