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OpenAdvisories
Medium USN-4247-3 2 CVEs

python-apt vulnerabilities

Published Jan 23, 2020 · Updated Apr 22, 2026

Summary

USN-4247-1 fixed several vulnerabilities in python-apt. This update
provides the corresponding updates for Ubuntu 12.04 ESM and Ubuntu 14.04 ESM.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that python-apt would still use MD5 hashes to validate
certain downloaded packages. If a remote attacker were able to perform a
machine-in-the-middle attack, this flaw could potentially be used to install
altered packages. (CVE-2019-15795)

It was discovered that python-apt could install packages from untrusted
repositories, contrary to expectations. (CVE-2019-15796)

Fixed packages 1

ReleasePackageFixed in
Ubuntu · Pro 14.04 LTS Pro:14.04:LTS python-apt 0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm2

Vulnerabilities 2

  • Medium 4.7

    python-apt uses MD5 for validation

    python-apt only checks the MD5 sums of downloaded files in `Version.fetch_binary()` and `Version.fetch_source()` of apt/package.py in version 1.9.0ubuntu1 and earlier. This allows a man-in-the-middle attack which could potentially be used to install altered p…

  • Medium 4.7

    python-apt downloads from untrusted sources

    Python-apt doesn't check if hashes are signed in `Version.fetch_binary()` and `Version.fetch_source()` of apt/package.py or in `_fetch_archives()` of apt/cache.py in version 1.9.3ubuntu2 and earlier. This allows downloads from unsigned repositories which shou…

References

  • report
    https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-15795
  • report
    https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-15796