CVE-2013-6396: Python swiftclient Python Swift Client Is Vulnerable Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-p3xv-97g8-4wmj
Share
CVSS 9.1
CWE-295
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-6396 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.1) python swift client is vulnerable vulnerability (CWE-295: Improper Certificate Validation) affecting Python swiftclient libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves python swift client is vulnerable to missing ssl certificate check. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.

CVE-2013-6396 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-6396
GHSA Identifier GHSA-p3xv-97g8-4wmj
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.1
CWE Classification CWE-295: Improper Certificate Validation
Affected Product Python swiftclient
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.1

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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2013-6396

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

python-swiftclient fixed: 2.0 
pip install python-swiftclient>=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 python-swiftclient

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2013-6396, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show python-swiftclient

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Python swiftclient in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.0), your application is affected.

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

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-295: Improper Certificate Validation, where the product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate. In Python swiftclient, 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

The OpenStack Python client library for Swift (python-swiftclient) from 1.0 before 2.0 does not verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.

CVE-2013-6396 Affected Python swiftclient Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
python-swiftclient
pypi/python-swiftclient
PyPI
≥ 1.0
< 2.0
2.0

References

NVD — CVE-2013-6396 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6396
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openstack/python-swiftclient/commit/b182112719ab87942472e44aa3446ea0eb19a289
bugs.launchpad.net/python-swiftclient/... WEB
https://bugs.launchpad.net/python-swiftclient/+bug/1199783
Python swiftclient Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/chmouel/python-swiftclient
Python swiftclient Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/python-swiftclient/PYSEC-2014-12.yaml
review.opendev.org/c/openstack/python-... WEB
https://review.opendev.org/c/openstack/python-swiftclient/+/69187
Python swiftclient Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/02/17/7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-6396?
CVE-2013-6396 is a security vulnerability in Python swiftclient involving Python Swift client is vulnerable to Missing SSL Certificate Check under CWE-295: Improper Certificate Validation.
Which Python swiftclient versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0 across affected packages: python-swiftclient.
What version fixes CVE-2013-6396?
Upgrading to 2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is python-swiftclient affected?
Yes, python-swiftclient is affected in releases prior to 2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2013-6396?
CVE-2013-6396 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-6396?
CVE-2013-6396 is classified under CWE-295: Improper Certificate Validation (The product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2013-6396?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show python-swiftclient'. 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-p3xv-97g8-4wmj",
  "modified" : "2025-07-07T12:57:06Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T04:52:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-6396" ],
  "summary" : "Python Swift client is vulnerable to Missing SSL Certificate Check",
  "details" : "The OpenStack Python client library for Swift (python-swiftclient) from 1.0 before 2.0 does not verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "python-swiftclient"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6396"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openstack/python-swiftclient/commit/b182112719ab87942472e44aa3446ea0eb19a289"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugs.launchpad.net/python-swiftclient/+bug/1199783"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/chmouel/python-swiftclient"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/python-swiftclient/PYSEC-2014-12.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://review.opendev.org/c/openstack/python-swiftclient/+/69187"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/02/17/7"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-295" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-29T18:56:11Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-02-18T19:55:00Z"
  }
}