Public bug reported: Currently python-boto does not verify SSL certificates by default. This is unacceptable as this exposes users to man in the middle attacks. This can be worked around by the user (see below).
Unfortunately after enabling verification, python-boto uses it's own cacerts.txt file to verify certificates and does not use the system provided certificates. If a valid certificate is not included in the python-boto shipped cacerts.txt file and certificate validation is tuned on, then verification will fail. I presume that this behaviour exists to enable cross platform compatibility. Python-boto should enable SSL certificate verification by default and use the system installed certificates (perhaps falling back to it's shipped certs file if necessary). The method to override verification should be included in the package documentation (or a README). = Workaround to enable verification = Create a ~/.boto file with the following: [Boto] https_validate_certificates = true = System Information = $ cat /etc/lsb-release DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu DISTRIB_RELEASE=12.10 DISTRIB_CODENAME=quantal DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 12.10" $ dpkg-query --show python-boto ca-certificates ca-certificates 20120623 python-boto 2.3.0-1 ** Affects: python-boto (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: Confirmed -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1078444 Title: python-boto should verify SSL certificates and should use the systems certificate repository To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/python-boto/+bug/1078444/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs