Hi Bernd - Thanks for the bug report! While I think that this is something that should be fixed upstream, I don't feel like it is a security issue.
By running `python setup.py ...`, you're already trusting that setup.py is not malicious. It could execute xmessage directly. Do you know if there are any other ways to trigger the problematic popen() call that doesn't require executing the Python script that has the malicious program name? Have you reported this issue to upstream Python? ** Changed in: python2.7 (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to python2.7 in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1514183 Title: distutils : file "bdist_rpm.py" allows Shell injection in "name" Status in python2.7 package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Bug description: File : /usr/lib/python2.7/distutils/command/bdist_rpm.py Line 358 : This line in the code uses the depreached os.popen command, should be replaced with subprocess.Popen() : out = os.popen(q_cmd) Exploit demo : ============ 1) Download the setup.py script wich i attached 2) Create a test folder an put the setup.py script in this folder 3) cd to the test folder 4) python setup.py bdist_rpm 5) A xmessage window pops up as a proof of concept ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10 Package: libpython2.7-stdlib 2.7.10-4ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.2.0-17.21-generic 4.2.3 Uname: Linux 4.2.0-17-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: wl ApportVersion: 2.19.1-0ubuntu4 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: Unity Date: Sun Nov 8 13:47:34 2015 InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-10-22 (16 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.10 "Wily Werewolf" - Release amd64 (20151021) SourcePackage: python2.7 UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/python2.7/+bug/1514183/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp