Security Bulletin: AIX is affected by multiple vulnerabilities due to Python (CVE-2023-43804, CVE-2023-37920)

Summary

Vulnerabilities in Python could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive information (CVE-2023-43804). AIX’s Python packaging also includes Certifi, which is vulnerable to CVE-2023-37920. Python is used by AIX as part of Ansible node management automation.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2023-43804
**DESCRIPTION:**urllib3 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by a flaw with cookie request header not stripped during cross-origin redirects. By sending a specially crafted request, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive information, and use this information to launch further attacks against the affected system.
CVSS Base score: 5.9
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/268192 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N)

CVEID:CVE-2023-37920
**DESCRIPTION:**An unspecified error with the removal of e-Tugra root certificate in Certifi has an unknown impact and attack vector.
CVSS Base score: 7.5
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/261639 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N)

Affected Products and Versions

The following fileset levels are vulnerable:

Note:

A. Latest level of Python fileset is available from the web download site:

<https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp&gt;

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

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&gt;

To extract the fixes from the tar file:

zcat python-3.9.18.1.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_advisory7.asc.sig&gt;

Workarounds and Mitigations

None