Ubuntu: 4247-2 Moderate Security Update for Python-Apt Regression Fix

ubuntu

January 22, 2020

USN-4247-1 introduced a regression in python-apt.

Summary

USN-4247-1 introduced a regression in python-apt.

Software Description:

- python-apt: Python interface to libapt-pkg

Details:

USN-4247-1 fixed vulnerabilities in python-apt. The updated packages caused

a regression when attempting to upgrade to a new Ubuntu release. This

update fixes the problem.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that python-apt would still use MD5 hashes to validate

certain downloaded packages. If a remote attacker were able to perform a

man-in-the-middle attack, this flaw could potentially be used to install

altered packages. (CVE-2019-15795)

It was discovered that python-apt could install packages from untrusted

repositories, contrary to expectations. (CVE-2019-15796)

Topics Covered

security advisory security issue software update ubuntu man-in-the-middle regression python-apt

Update Instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following
package versions:

Ubuntu 19.10:
  python-apt                      1.9.0ubuntu1.3
  python3-apt                     1.9.0ubuntu1.3

Ubuntu 19.04:
  python-apt                      1.8.5~ubuntu0.3
  python3-apt                     1.8.5~ubuntu0.3

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS:
  python-apt                      1.6.5ubuntu0.2
  python3-apt                     1.6.5ubuntu0.2

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS:
  python-apt                      1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.8
  python3-apt                     1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.8

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.