CVE-2021-32811
Description
The module `AccessControl` defines security policies for Python code used in restricted code within Zope applications. Restricted code is any code that resides in Zope's object database, such as the contents of `Script (Python)` objects. The policies defined in `AccessControl` severely restrict access to Python modules and only exempt a few that are deemed safe, such as Python's `string` module. However, full access to the `string` module also allows access to the class `Formatter`, which can be overridden and extended within `Script (Python)` in a way that provides access to other unsafe Python libraries. Those unsafe Python libraries can be used for remote code execution. 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. The problem has been fixed in AccessControl 4.3 and 5.2. Only AccessControl versions 4 and 5 are vulnerable, and only on Python 3, not Python 2.7. As a workaround, 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.
Predictions
Heuristic predictions, AS-IS, for prioritization only.
Mitigations
No vendor mitigations ingested yet for this CVE. The mitigation-content worker queues fetches as references arrive — check back in a few minutes, or see the references list below.
Package impact
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | zope | >=4.0,<4.6.3 | 4.6.3 |
| PyPI | zope | >=5.0,<5.3 | 5.3 |
| PyPI | accesscontrol | >=4.0,<4.3 | 4.3 |
| PyPI | accesscontrol | >=5.0,<5.2 | 5.2 |
| PyPI | zope | <f72a18dda8e9bf2aedb46168761668464a4be988||>=5.0,<5.3 | f72a18dda8e9bf2aedb46168761668464a4be988 |
| PyPI | accesscontrol | <b42dd4badf803bb9fb71ac34cd9cb0c249262f2c||>=5.0,<5.2 | b42dd4badf803bb9fb71ac34cd9cb0c249262f2c |
| PyPI | zope | <b42dd4badf803bb9fb71ac34cd9cb0c249262f2c||>=4.0,<4.3 | b42dd4badf803bb9fb71ac34cd9cb0c249262f2c |
References
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/security/advisories/GHSA-qcx9-j53g-ccgf
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32811
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/commit/869f947e586517566509e0ccdd4d99b60704cc02
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/commit/f72a18dda8e9bf2aedb46168761668464a4be988
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/zope/PYSEC-2021-368.yaml
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32807
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/commit/ae2dab0cc34e6dd1561c5b12d4a56cd140f87e1d
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/commit/b42dd4badf803bb9fb71ac34cd9cb0c249262f2c
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/accesscontrol/PYSEC-2021-335.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/accesscontrol/PYSEC-2021-370.yaml
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl
- https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/blob/master/CHANGES.rst#51-2021-07-30
Verify integrity in audit chain (admin only). AS-IS.