CVE-2016-10321: Web2py Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-gv85-wgxc-vc56
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-307
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-10321 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts) affecting Web2py libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves web2py is vulnerable to password brute-force attack. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.14.6.

CVE-2016-10321 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-10321
GHSA Identifier GHSA-gv85-wgxc-vc56
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
Affected Product Web2py
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:H).

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 High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2016-10321

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Web2py dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

web2py fixed: 2.14.6 
pip install web2py>=2.14.6
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 web2py

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2016-10321, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show web2py

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Web2py in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.14.6), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show web2py command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts, where the product does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts within a short time frame. In Web2py, 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

web2py before 2.14.6 does not properly check if a host is denied before verifying passwords, allowing a remote attacker to perform brute-force attacks.

CVE-2016-10321 Affected Web2py Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.14.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
web2py
pypi/web2py
PyPI
< 2.14.6
2.14.6

References

NVD — CVE-2016-10321 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10321
Web2py Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/web2py/web2py/issues/1585#issuecomment-284317919
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/web2py/web2py/commit/944d8bd8f3c5cf8ae296fc03d149056c65358426
Web2py Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/web2py/web2py
usn.ubuntu.com/4030-1 WEB
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4030-1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-10321?
CVE-2016-10321 is a security vulnerability in Web2py involving web2py is vulnerable to password brute-force attack under CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts.
Which Web2py versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.14.6 across affected packages: web2py.
What version fixes CVE-2016-10321?
Upgrading to 2.14.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is web2py affected?
Yes, web2py is affected in releases prior to 2.14.6. Upgrade your dependency to 2.14.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-10321?
CVE-2016-10321 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-10321?
CVE-2016-10321 is classified under CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts (The product does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts within a short time frame.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2016-10321?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show web2py'. 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-gv85-wgxc-vc56",
  "modified" : "2023-08-03T22:44:43Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T00:57:47Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-10321" ],
  "summary" : "web2py is vulnerable to password brute-force attack",
  "details" : "web2py before 2.14.6 does not properly check if a host is denied before verifying passwords, allowing a remote attacker to perform brute-force attacks.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "web2py"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.14.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10321"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/web2py/web2py/issues/1585#issuecomment-284317919"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/web2py/web2py/commit/944d8bd8f3c5cf8ae296fc03d149056c65358426"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/web2py/web2py"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4030-1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-307" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-03T22:44:43Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-04-10T14:59:00Z"
  }
}