CVE-2013-6396: OpenStack Python client library for Swift (python-swiftclient) X.509 Certificate Validation Bypass
Summary
CVE-2013-6396: Python Swift client is vulnerable to Missing SSL Certificate Check. Affects python-swiftclient versions >= 1.0, < 2.0. Fixed in 2.0. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- python-swiftclient · Debian:11
The same CVE-2013-6396 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
The OpenStack Python client library for Swift, also known as python-swiftclient, is a Python library that provides a high-level interface for interacting with the Swift object storage service in OpenStack. It allows users to perform various operations such as uploading, downloading, and managing objects in Swift. The library is widely used in OpenStack deployments and other applications that interact with Swift. However, versions 1.0 through 1.9.0 of python-swiftclient are vulnerable to a security issue that allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information by bypassing X.509 certificate validation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in python-swiftclient arises from the lack of X.509 certificate validation when establishing SSL connections with servers. This means that an attacker with the ability to intercept network traffic can present a crafted SSL certificate that will be accepted by python-swiftclient without verification. As a result, the attacker can impersonate a legitimate server and intercept or modify the communication between the client and the server. This can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information, such as authentication credentials or the content of objects stored in Swift. The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of data stored in Swift.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 4.11.0 as of 22 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "python-swiftclient==4.11.0"Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
2.0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
pip install --upgrade "python-swiftclient==2.0"Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no specific workaround provided for this vulnerability. However, as a general best practice, users can mitigate the risk by ensuring that SSL connections to python-swiftclient are established only with trusted servers whose SSL certificates are properly validated.
Conclusion
The OpenStack Python client library for Swift (python-swiftclient) versions 1.0 through 1.9.0 are vulnerable to a X.509 certificate validation bypass. This allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and potentially obtain sensitive information. Users should upgrade to python-swiftclient version 2.0 or later to fix the vulnerability. It is also important to ensure SSL connections are established only with trusted servers. For further support on vulnerability remediation, contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
Python-swiftclient is a Python library that provides a high-level interface for interacting with the Swift object storage service in OpenStack.
Versions 1.0 through 1.9.0 of python-swiftclient are affected by this vulnerability.
The vulnerability allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information, potentially leading to the disclosure of authentication credentials and the content of objects stored in Swift.
To fix the vulnerability, upgrade python-swiftclient to version 2.0 or later.
While there is no specific workaround, users can mitigate the risk by ensuring SSL connections are established only with trusted servers.
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