Advisory Published

USN-4973-1: Python vulnerability

First published: Tue Jun 01 2021(Updated: )

It was discovered that the Python stdlib ipaddress API incorrectly handled octal strings. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to perform a wide variety of attacks, including bypassing certain access restrictions.

Affected SoftwareAffected VersionHow to fix
All of
ubuntu/python3.8-minimal<3.8.6-1ubuntu0.3
3.8.6-1ubuntu0.3
Ubuntu=20.10
All of
ubuntu/python3.8<3.8.6-1ubuntu0.3
3.8.6-1ubuntu0.3
Ubuntu=20.10
All of
ubuntu/python3.8-minimal<3.8.5-1~20.04.3
3.8.5-1~20.04.3
Ubuntu=20.04
All of
ubuntu/python3.8<3.8.5-1~20.04.3
3.8.5-1~20.04.3
Ubuntu=20.04

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Child vulnerabilities

(Contains the following vulnerabilities)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the severity of USN-4973-1?

    USN-4973-1 has a high severity rating due to potential remote code execution risks.

  • How do I fix USN-4973-1?

    To fix USN-4973-1, upgrade to the patched version of Python 3.8 specified in the advisory.

  • Which versions of Ubuntu are affected by USN-4973-1?

    USN-4973-1 affects Ubuntu versions 20.04 and 20.10 with specific Python 3.8 packages.

  • What impact can USN-4973-1 have on my system?

    USN-4973-1 can allow attackers to bypass access restrictions, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

  • Is there a workaround for USN-4973-1 while waiting for a fix?

    Currently, the best approach is to upgrade to the fixed version since there is no recommended workaround.

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