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Remote Code Execution via Script (Python) objects under Python 3

High
dataflake published GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr Jul 31, 2021

Package

pip Zope (pip)

Affected versions

>= 4.0, <4.6.3, <5.3

Patched versions

4.6.3, 5.3

Description

Impact

Background: The optional add-on package Products.PythonScripts adds Script (Python) to the list of content items a user can add to the Zope object database. Inside these scripts users can write Python code that is executed when rendered through the web. The code environment in these script objects is limited, it relies on the RestrictedPython package to provide a "safe" subset of Python instructions as well as the AccessControl package that defines security policies for execution in the context of a Zope application.

Recently the AccessControl package was updated to fix a remote code execution security issue. A link to the security advisory is provided in the References section below. The bug tightens the AccessControl security policies for Zope by blocking access to unsafe classes inside the Python string module.

You are only affected if the following are true:

  • You use Python 3 for your Zope deployment (Zope 4 on Python 2 is not affected)
  • You run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3
  • You have installed the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package

By default, you need to have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web - which would be a very unusual configuration to begin with - are at risk.

Patches

The problem has been fixed in AccessControl versions 4.3 and 5.2. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 now require these new AccessControl releases.

Workarounds

A site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.

References

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

Severity

High

CVE ID

CVE-2021-32811

Weaknesses

No CWEs