Critical Vulnerability in Bottle Package: Content-Type Bypass Leading to Arbitrary Code Execution
Summary
CVE-2014-3137: Bottle 0.10.x before 0.10.12, 0.11.x before 0.11.7, and 0.12.x before 0.12.6 does not properly limit content types, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via an accepted Content-Type follow... Affects python-bottle versions < 0.12.6-1. Fixed in 0.12.6-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Bottle is a lightweight WSGI micro web framework for Python, designed for building small web applications quickly and easily. It is known for its simplicity and minimalistic approach, making it a popular choice for developers who need a straightforward solution for web development. However, certain versions of Bottle are vulnerable to a security issue that allows attackers to bypass access restrictions through improper handling of Content-Type headers.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2014-3137, affects Bottle versions 0.10.x before 0.10.12, 0.11.x before 0.11.7, and 0.12.x before 0.12.6. It arises from the framework's failure to properly limit accepted Content-Types, allowing remote attackers to exploit this weakness. By sending a Content-Type header followed by a semicolon and an unaccepted Content-Type, attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code on the server. This could lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or further exploitation of the server environment.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
0.12.6-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade python-bottleTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If immediate upgrading is not feasible, a temporary workaround involves implementing additional validation on the server-side to restrict accepted Content-Types. This can be done by modifying the request handling logic to explicitly check and reject any Content-Type headers that do not conform to expected values. However, this is not a permanent solution and should be replaced with an upgrade as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The CVE-2014-3137 vulnerability in the Bottle package poses a significant risk due to improper handling of Content-Type headers, allowing for potential arbitrary code execution. It is crucial for users to upgrade to a secure version to mitigate this risk. Temporary workarounds can be implemented, but they should not replace a proper update.
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FAQ
Bottle versions 0.10.x before 0.10.12, 0.11.x before 0.11.7, and 0.12.x before 0.12.6 are affected.
Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server, leading to unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
Yes, implementing additional validation on Content-Type headers can serve as a temporary workaround until an upgrade is possible.
More details can be found in the CVE database under CVE-2014-3137 and related advisories.
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