CVE-2021-32811: Zope Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr
CVSS 7.5
CWE-1321 CWE-915
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-32811 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Zope libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves remote code execution via script (python) objects under python 3. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.6.3, 5.3.

CVE-2021-32811 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-32811
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Zope
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-32811

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

Zope fixed: 4.6.3
pip install Zope>=4.6.3
Zope fixed: 5.3
pip install Zope>=5.3
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 Zope

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2021-32811, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show Zope

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Zope in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.6.3), your application is affected.

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

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution'), where the product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype. In Zope, 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

### Impact Background: The optional add-on package `Products.PythonScripts` adds `Script (Python)` to the list of content items a user can add to the Zope object database. Inside these scripts users can write Python code that is executed when rendered through the web. The code environment in these script objects is limited, it relies on the `RestrictedPython` package to provide a "safe" subset of Python instructions as well as the `AccessControl` package that defines security policies for execution in the context of a Zope application. Recently the `AccessControl` package was updated to fix a remote code execution security issue. A link to the security advisory is provided in the References section below. The bug tightens the `AccessControl` security policies for Zope by blocking access to unsafe classes inside the Python `string` module. You are only affected if the following are true: - You use Python 3 for your Zope deployment (Zope 4 on Python 2 is not affected) - You run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3 - You have installed the optional `Products.PythonScripts` add-on package By default, you need to have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web - which would be a very unusual configuration to begin with - are at risk. ### Patches The problem has been fixed in `AccessControl` versions 4.3 and 5.2. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 now require these new `AccessControl` releases. ### Workarounds A site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope. ### References * [AccessControl security advisory GHSA-qcx9-j53g-ccgf](https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/security/advisories/GHSA-qcx9-j53g-ccgf) ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in the [Zope issue tracker](https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/issues) * Email us at [security@plone.org](mailto:security@plone.org)

CVE-2021-32811 Affected Zope Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.6.35.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
Zope
PyPI
≥ 4.0
< 4.6.3
4.6.3
Zope
PyPI
≥ 5.0
< 5.3
5.3

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-32811?
CVE-2021-32811 is a security vulnerability in Zope involving Remote Code Execution via Script (Python) objects under Python 3 under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Zope versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.6.3, 5.3 across affected packages: Zope.
What version fixes CVE-2021-32811?
Upgrading to 4.6.3, 5.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is Zope affected?
Yes, Zope is affected in releases prior to 4.6.3, 5.3. Upgrade your dependency to 4.6.3, 5.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-32811?
CVE-2021-32811 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-32811?
CVE-2021-32811 is classified under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution') (The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2021-32811?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show Zope'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr",
  "modified" : "2024-09-03T21:14:03Z",
  "published" : "2021-08-05T17:00:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-32811" ],
  "summary" : "Remote Code Execution via Script (Python) objects under Python 3",
  "details" : "### Impact\nBackground: The optional add-on package `Products.PythonScripts` adds `Script (Python)` to the list of content items a user can add to the Zope object database. Inside these scripts users can write Python code that is executed when rendered through the web. The code environment in these script objects is limited, it relies on the `RestrictedPython` package to provide a \"safe\" subset of Python instructions as well as the `AccessControl` package that defines security policies for execution in the context of a Zope application.\n\nRecently the `AccessControl` package was updated to fix a remote code execution security issue. A link to the security advisory is provided in the References section below. The bug tightens the `AccessControl` security policies for Zope by blocking access to unsafe classes inside the Python `string` module.\n\nYou are only affected if the following are true:\n\n- You use Python 3 for your Zope deployment (Zope 4 on Python 2 is not affected)\n- You run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3\n- You have installed the optional `Products.PythonScripts` add-on package\n\nBy default, you need to have the admin-level Zope \"Manager\" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web - which would be a very unusual configuration to begin with - are at risk.\n\n### Patches\nThe problem has been fixed in `AccessControl` versions 4.3 and 5.2. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 now require these new `AccessControl` releases.\n\n### Workarounds\nA site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.\n\n### References\n* [AccessControl security advisory GHSA-qcx9-j53g-ccgf](https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/security/advisories/GHSA-qcx9-j53g-ccgf)\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open an issue in the [Zope issue tracker](https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/issues)\n* Email us at [security@plone.org](mailto:security@plone.org)\n\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "Zope"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.6.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "Zope"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/security/advisories/GHSA-qcx9-j53g-ccgf"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32811"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/commit/869f947e586517566509e0ccdd4d99b60704cc02"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/commit/f72a18dda8e9bf2aedb46168761668464a4be988"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/zope/PYSEC-2021-368.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1321", "CWE-915" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-08-02T22:57:25Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-08-02T22:15:00Z"
  }
}