There is a high severity vulnerability affecting CPython, specifically the 'http.cookies' standard library module. When parsing cookies that contained backslashes for quoted characters in the cookie value, the parser would use an algorithm with quadratic complexity, resulting in excess CPU resources being used while parsing the value.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, which signals a significant risk to organizations relying on this technology. The impact could lead to performance degradation, particularly under heavy loads where cookie parsing is frequent.
As of now, there are no known exploits or public proof of concept available for this vulnerability. However, organizations should remain vigilant and apply patches as soon as they become available.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to prevent potential performance issues and resource exhaustion.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) and CWE-1333 (Improper Handling of Special Elements). The issue was published on August 19, 2024, and is relevant for several versions of Python, particularly those prior to the patch.
The attack vector is network-based, with low complexity and no privileges or user interaction required for exploitation. The availability impact is rated high, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to significant resource consumption on affected systems.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the parsing algorithm of the 'http.cookies' module, which becomes inefficient when handling certain cookie formats. This algorithmic inefficiency leads to quadratic complexity, causing severe performance issues under specific conditions.
The attack complexity is low, meaning attackers can exploit this without requiring sophisticated techniques. As there is no need for user interaction, the risk of exploitation is further increased.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential denial of service due to excessive CPU utilization. The blast radius could encompass any application utilizing the affected 'http.cookies' module, making it a widespread risk for Python applications.
As the vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, organizations should address this in their priority patch cycle to mitigate risks associated with performance degradation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions include Python versions from 3.8.0 to 3.12.5, and specific alpha, beta, and release candidate versions of 3.13.0. Organizations should check their deployment for any of these vulnerable versions.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should upgrade to the latest version of Python that includes the patches for this vulnerability. For those unable to upgrade immediately, consider implementing rate limiting or other network controls to mitigate excessive resource usage.
Further, organizations can assess their security posture through penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring system logs for unusual CPU utilization patterns may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, tracking cookie parsing processes can help identify potential abuse.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The vulnerability highlights the importance of efficient parsing algorithms in widely used libraries. Security teams should ensure thorough testing of libraries for performance and security to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Organizations should consider adopting a proactive approach to vulnerability management by integrating security testing in their development processes. Emphasizing on penetration testing methodologycan be beneficial.
For further insights on managing vulnerabilities, organizations can refer to our vulnerability management program guide.
Lastly, understanding the context of this vulnerability within the broader landscape can inform better security practices. The trend towards performance-related vulnerabilities is something security teams should monitor closely, ensuring that they maintain an effective penetration testing cost approach.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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