USN-3199-2: Python Crypto regression

17 February 2017

USN-3199-1 introduced a regression in the Python Cryptography Toolkit which caused programs which relied on the original behavior to fail.

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Releases

Packages

  • python-crypto - cryptographic algorithms and protocols for Python

Details

USN-3199-1 fixed a vulnerability in the Python Cryptography Toolkit.
Unfortunately, various programs depended on the original behavior of the Python
Cryptography Toolkit which was altered when fixing the vulnerability. This
update retains the fix for the vulnerability but issues a warning rather than
throwing an exception. Code which produces this warning should be updated
because future versions of the Python Cryptography Toolkit re-introduce the
exception.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that the ALGnew function in block_template.c in the Python
Cryptography Toolkit contained a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability.
A remote attacker could use this flaw to execute arbitrary code by using
a crafted initialization vector parameter.

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Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

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Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 16.10
Ubuntu 16.04
Ubuntu 14.04

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

References

Related notices