Security Bulletin: AIX is affected by arbitrary code execution [CVE-2022-40674] and denial of service [CVE-2020-10735] due to Python

Summary

Vulnerabilities in Python could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code [CVE-2022-40674] or cause a denial of service [CVE-2020-10735]. Python is used by AIX as part of Ansible node management automation.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2022-40674
**DESCRIPTION:**libexpat could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by a use-after-free in the doContent function in xmlparse.c. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system.
CVSS Base score: 9.8
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/236116 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

CVEID:CVE-2020-10735
**DESCRIPTION:**Python is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the failure to limit amount of digits converting text to int by the int() type in PyLong_FromString(). A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to consume all available resources.
CVSS Base score: 7.5
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/235840 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

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-01.ibm.com/marketing/iwm/iwm/web/pickUrxNew.do?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-01.ibm.com/marketing/iwm/iwm/web/pickUrxNew.do?source=aixbp&gt;

To extract the fixes from the tar file:

zcat python-3.9.14.0.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:

<http://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory2.asc.sig&gt;

<https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory2.asc.sig&gt;

ftp://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory2.asc.sig

Workarounds and Mitigations

None