Incorrect Conversion between Numeric Types in Python - CVE-2008-1721
Published: July 5, 2022 / Updated: June 3, 2025
Vulnerability identifier: #VU110166
CSH Severity: Medium
CVSS v4: 6.9 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2008-1721
CWE-ID: CWE-681
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
Public exploit is available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote non-authenticated attacker to read and manipulate data.
Integer signedness error in the zlib extension module in Python 2.5.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a negative signed integer, which triggers insufficient memory allocation and a buffer overflow.
Affected software
Python
Gentoo Linux
Ubuntu
python2.4 (Ubuntu package)
python2.4-minimal (Ubuntu package)
python2.5 (Ubuntu package)
python2.5-minimal (Ubuntu package)
dev-lang/python
Gentoo Linux
Ubuntu
python2.4 (Ubuntu package)
python2.4-minimal (Ubuntu package)
python2.5 (Ubuntu package)
python2.5-minimal (Ubuntu package)
dev-lang/python
How to mitigate CVE-2008-1721
Install update from vendor's website.
python2.4 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 2.4.3-0ubuntu6.2, 2.4.4-2ubuntu7.2, 2.4.4-6ubuntu4.2, 2.4.5-1ubuntu4.1
python2.4-minimal (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 2.4.3-0ubuntu6.2, 2.4.4-2ubuntu7.2, 2.4.4-6ubuntu4.2, 2.4.5-1ubuntu4.1
python2.5 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 2.5.1-0ubuntu1.2, 2.5.1-5ubuntu5.2, 2.5.2-2ubuntu4.1
python2.5-minimal (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 2.5.1-0ubuntu1.2, 2.5.1-5ubuntu5.2, 2.5.2-2ubuntu4.1
dev-lang/python - update to 2.4.4-r13
python2.4-minimal (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 2.4.3-0ubuntu6.2, 2.4.4-2ubuntu7.2, 2.4.4-6ubuntu4.2, 2.4.5-1ubuntu4.1
python2.5 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 2.5.1-0ubuntu1.2, 2.5.1-5ubuntu5.2, 2.5.2-2ubuntu4.1
python2.5-minimal (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 2.5.1-0ubuntu1.2, 2.5.1-5ubuntu5.2, 2.5.2-2ubuntu4.1
dev-lang/python - update to 2.4.4-r13
Links to Public Exploits and PoC-codes
External References
- http://bugs.python.org/issue2586
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/28715
- http://securityreason.com/securityalert/3802
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:085
- http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1551
- http://secunia.com/advisories/29889
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1019823
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0149
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2444
- http://secunia.com/advisories/29955
- http://secunia.com/advisories/30872
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-632-1
- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200807-01.xml
- http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1620
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31358
- http://slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security&y=2008&m=slackware-security.525289
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31365
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31255
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Feb/msg00000.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/33937
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3438
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/37471
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3316
- http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100074697
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38675
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1229/references
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/41748
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9407
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8494
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8249
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/507985/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/490690/100/0/threaded