IBM SECURITY ADVISORY
First Issued: Tue May 20 08:31:27 CDT 2025
The most recent version of this document is available here:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory15.asc
Security Bulletin: AIX is affected by a denial of service (CVE-2024-8176)
due to Python
===============================================================================
SUMMARY:
Vulnerability in Python could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial
of service (CVE-2024-8176). Python is used by AIX as part of Ansible node
management automation.
===============================================================================
VULNERABILITY DETAILS:
CVEID: CVE-2024-8176
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-8176
DESCRIPTION: A stack overflow vulnerability exists in the libexpat
library due to the way it handles recursive entity expansion in XML
documents. When parsing an XML document with deeply nested entity
references, libexpat can be forced to recurse indefinitely,
exhausting the stack space and causing a crash. This issue could
lead to denial of service (DoS) or, in some cases, exploitable
memory corruption, depending on the environment and library usage.
CVSS Base Score: 7.5
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector:(CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)
AFFECTED PRODUCTS AND VERSIONS:
AIX 7.3
VIOS 4.1
The following fileset levels are vulnerable:
key_fileset = osrcaix
Fileset Lower Level Upper Level KEY
------------------------------------------------------
python3.9.base 3.9.0.0 3.9.20.1 key_w_fs
python3.11.base 3.11.0.0 3.11.10.0 key_w_fs
Note:
A. Latest level of Python fileset is available from the web download site:
https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp
To find out whether the affected filesets are installed on your systems,
refer to the lslpp command found in the AIX user's guide.
Example: lslpp -L | grep -i python3.9.base
REMEDIATION:
A. FIXES
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.
The fixes can be downloaded via https from:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_fix15.tar
The links above are to a tar file containing this signed
advisory, fix packages, and OpenSSL signatures for each package.
The fixes below include prerequisite checking. This will
enforce the correct mapping between the fixes and AIX
Technology Levels.
AIX Level Fix (*.Z) KEY
-----------------------------------------------
7.3 python-3.9.20.2.tar.Z key_w_fix
7.3 python-3.11.10.1.tar.Z key_w_fix
VIOS Level Fix (*.Z) KEY
-----------------------------------------------
4.1 python-3.9.20.2.tar.Z key_w_fix
4.1 python-3.11.10.1.tar.Z key_w_fix
To extract the fixes from the tar file:
tar xvf python_fix15.tar
cd python_fix15
Verify you have retrieved the fixes intact:
The checksums below were generated using the
"openssl dgst -sha256 [file]" command as the following:
openssl dgst -sha256 filename KEY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
71c12cb4e26dcd5f6d03c61ef1ea96fd2ada6c733023b59d2dcfc3b8042aab1c python-3.9.20.2.tar.Z key_w_csum
33590029ffef25ac4d338ce15b4329dbbecce6a6f81077cba2099097239070d3 python-3.11.10.1.tar.Z key_w_csum
These sums should match exactly. The OpenSSL signatures in the tar
file and on this advisory can also be used to verify the
integrity of the fixes. If the sums or signatures cannot be
confirmed, contact IBM AIX Support at
https://ibm.com/support/ and describe the discrepancy.
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [ifix_file].sig [ifix_file]
Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory15.asc.sig
B. FIX AND INTERIM FIX INSTALLATION
To extract the fixes from the tar file:
zcat python-3.9.20.1.tar.Z | tar xvf -
IMPORTANT: If possible, it is recommended that a mksysb backup
of the system be created. Verify it is both bootable and
readable before proceeding.
To preview the fix installation:
installp -apYd . python3.9.base
To install the fix package:
installp -aXYd . python3.9.base
WORKAROUNDS AND MITIGATIONS:
None.
===============================================================================
CONTACT US:
Note: Keywords labeled as KEY in this document are used for parsing
purposes.
If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email,
please visit "My Notifications":
http://www.ibm.com/support/mynotifications
Contact IBM Support for questions related to this announcement:
https://ibm.com/support/
For information on how to securely verify AIX security bulletins and fixes:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6985269
To obtain the OpenSSL public key that can be used to verify the
signed advisories and ifixes:
Download the key from our web page:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/systems_p_os_aix_security_pubkey.txt
To verify the AIX/VIOS security bulletin:
Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/python_advisory15.asc.sig
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]
Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any
assistance.
REFERENCES:
Complete CVSS v3 Guide:
https://www.first.org/cvss/user-guide
On-line Calculator v3:
https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0
RELATED INFORMATION:
Security Bulletin: AIX is affected by a denial of service (CVE-2024-50602)
due to Python
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7233966
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
None.
CHANGE HISTORY:
First Issued: Tue May 20 08:31:27 CDT 2025
===============================================================================
*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will
ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact
of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the
Reference section of this Security Bulletin.
Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard
designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and
priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY
OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT
OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.