AIX is affected by multiple vulnerabilities due to Python (CVE-2023-52425 CVE-2023-52426 CVE-2023-6597)

IBM SECURITY ADVISORY

First Issued: Thu Apr 11 15:29:16 CDT 2024

The most recent version of this document is available here:

https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory8.asc

Security Bulletin: AIX is affected by multiple vulnerabilities due to
Python (CVE-2023-52425, CVE-2023-52426, CVE-2023-6597)

===============================================================================

SUMMARY:

Vulnerabilities in Python could allow a remote or local attacker to
cause a denial of service (CVE-2023-52425, CVE-2023-52426) or launch
further attacks on the system (CVE-2023-6597). Python is used by AIX as
part of Ansible node management automation.

===============================================================================

VULNERABILITY DETAILS:

CVEID: CVE-2023-52425
    https://vulners.com/cve/CVE-2023-52425
DESCRIPTION: libexpat is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by
    improper system resource allocation. By sending a specially crafted
    request using an overly large token, a remote attacker could exploit
    this vulnerability to cause a denial of service.
CVSS Base Score: 7.5
CVSS Temporal Score: See
    https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/281438
    for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector:(CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

CVEID: CVE-2023-52426
    https://vulners.com/cve/CVE-2023-52426
DESCRIPTION: libexpat is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by an
    XML entity expansion flaw if XML_DTD is undefined at compile time. By
    compiling specially crafted XML input, a local attacker could exploit
    this vulnerability to cause a denial of service.
CVSS Base Score: 5.1
CVSS Temporal Score: See
    https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/281439
    for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector:(CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

CVEID: CVE-2023-6597
    https://vulners.com/cve/CVE-2023-6597
DESCRIPTION: Python could provide weaker than expected security, caused by
    an issue with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory fails removing dir in some
    edge cases related to symlinks. A local attacker could exploit this
    vulnerability to launch further attacks on the system.
CVSS Base Score: 8.4
CVSS Temporal Score: See
    https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/283230
    for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector:(CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)


AFFECTED PRODUCTS AND VERSIONS:

    AIX 7.3
    VIOS 4.1

    The following fileset levels are vulnerable:
    
    key_fileset = osrcaix

    Fileset          Lower Level   Upper Level    KEY
    ------------------------------------------------------
    python3.9.base   3.9.0.0       3.9.18.1       key_w_fs

    Note:
    A. Latest level of Python fileset is available from the web download site:
    https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp

    To find out whether the affected filesets are installed on your systems,
    refer to the lslpp command found in the AIX user's guide.

    Example:  lslpp -L | grep -i python3.9.base

REMEDIATION:

    FIXES

        IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.

        A fix is available, and it can be downloaded from:

        https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp

        To extract the fixes from the tar file:

        zcat python-3.9.18.2.tar.Z | tar xvf -

        IMPORTANT: If possible, it is recommended that a mksysb backup
        of the system be created.  Verify it is both bootable and
        readable before proceeding.

        Note that all the previously reported security vulnerability fixes
        are also included in above mentioned fileset level.

        To preview the fix installation:

        installp -apYd . python3.9.base

        To install the fix package:

        installp -aXYd . python3.9.base
                    
        openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]

        openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [ifix_file].sig [ifix_file]

        Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:

        https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory8.asc.sig



WORKAROUNDS AND MITIGATIONS:

    None.

===============================================================================

CONTACT US:

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To obtain the OpenSSL public key that can be used to verify the
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    Download the key from our web page:

https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/systems_p_os_aix_security_pubkey.txt

To verify the AIX/VIOS security bulletin:

    Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:

    https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory8.asc.sig

    openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]

Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any
assistance.

REFERENCES:

Complete CVSS v3 Guide:
    https://www.first.org/cvss/user-guide
On-line Calculator v3:
    https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0

RELATED INFORMATION:

Security Bulletin: AIX is affected by multiple vulnerabilities due to
    Python (CVE-2023-52425, CVE-2023-52426, CVE-2023-6597)
    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7148151

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

None.

CHANGE HISTORY:

First Issued: Thu Apr 11 15:29:16 CDT 2024

===============================================================================

*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will
ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact
of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the
Reference section of this Security Bulletin.

Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an “industry open standard
designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and
priority of response.” IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY
OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT
OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.