CVE-2015-4707: Ipython Improper Neutralization Of Input During Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-66gw-5xpf-gfp5
Share
CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-4707 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) improper neutralization of input during vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Ipython libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves improper neutralization of input during web page generation in ipython. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.0.

CVE-2015-4707 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-4707
GHSA Identifier GHSA-66gw-5xpf-gfp5
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Ipython
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2015-4707

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ipython dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

ipython fixed: 3.2.0 
pip install ipython>=3.2.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show ipython

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2015-4707, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show ipython

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ipython in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.2.0), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show ipython command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Ipython, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IPython before 3.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving JSON error messages and the /api/notebooks path.

CVE-2015-4707 Affected Ipython Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ipython
pypi/ipython
PyPI
< 3.2.0
3.2.0

References

NVD — CVE-2015-4707 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-4707
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/7222bd53ad089a65fd610fab4626f9d0ab47dfce
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/c2078a53543ed502efd968649fee1125e0eb549c
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1235688
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-66gw-5xpf-gfp5
Ipython Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ipython/ipython
Ipython Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ipython/PYSEC-2017-46.yaml
Ipython Security Information SECURITY
https://ipython.org/ipython-doc/3/whatsnew/version3.html
Ipython Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227150022/https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/75328
Ipython Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/06/22/7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-4707?
CVE-2015-4707 is a security vulnerability in Ipython involving Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation in IPython under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Ipython versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.0 across affected packages: ipython.
What version fixes CVE-2015-4707?
Upgrading to 3.2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ipython affected?
Yes, ipython is affected in releases prior to 3.2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2015-4707?
CVE-2015-4707 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-4707?
CVE-2015-4707 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2015-4707?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show ipython'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-66gw-5xpf-gfp5",
  "modified" : "2024-09-23T16:09:35Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:31:05Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2015-4707" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation in IPython",
  "details" : "Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IPython before 3.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving JSON error messages and the /api/notebooks path.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ipython"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-4707"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/7222bd53ad089a65fd610fab4626f9d0ab47dfce"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/c2078a53543ed502efd968649fee1125e0eb549c"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1235688"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-66gw-5xpf-gfp5"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ipython/ipython"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ipython/PYSEC-2017-46.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://ipython.org/ipython-doc/3/whatsnew/version3.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200227150022/https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/75328"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/06/22/7"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T20:15:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-09-20T18:29:00Z"
  }
}