USN-1484-1: PyCrypto vulnerability

28 June 2012

PyCrypto improperly created ElGamal encryption keys.

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Releases

Packages

  • python-crypto - cryptographic algorithms and protocols for Python

Details

It was discovered that PyCrypto produced inappropriate prime numbers when
generating ElGamal keys. An attacker could use this flaw to facilitate
brute-forcing of ElGamal encryption keys.

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Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

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Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 12.04
Ubuntu 11.10
Ubuntu 11.04
Ubuntu 10.04

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.
If PyCrypto was used to generate ElGamal keys, we recommend they be
regenerated.

References

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Further reading