Python: Heap overflow in the included PCRE library

Background

Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, cross-platform programming language. The “re” Python module provides regular expression functions.

Description

The “re” Python module makes use of a private copy of libpcre which is subject to an integer overflow leading to a heap overflow (see GLSA 200508-17).

Impact

An attacker could target a Python-based web application (or SUID application) that would use untrusted data as regular expressions, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary code (or privilege escalation).

Workaround

Python users that don’t run any Python web application or SUID application (or that run one that wouldn’t use untrusted inputs as regular expressions) are not affected by this issue.

Resolution

All Python users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-lang/python-2.3.5-r2"