What is CVE-2019-15795?

CVE-2019-15795 is a medium-severity use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm vulnerability in python-apt (pip), affecting versions < 0.8.3ubuntu7.5. It is fixed in 0.8.3ubuntu7.5, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3, 1.1.0, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.9.0ubuntu1.2. The application uses a cryptographic algorithm known to have weaknesses, such as MD5, SHA-1, or DES.

How severe is CVE-2019-15795?

CVE-2019-15795 has a CVSS score of 4.7 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Which versions of python-apt are affected by CVE-2019-15795?

python-apt (pip) versions < 0.8.3ubuntu7.5 is affected.

Is CVE-2019-15795 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2019-15795 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

What actually determines whether CVE-2019-15795 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

CVE-2019-15795 in python-apt

Q: How severe is CVE-2019-15795?

CVE-2019-15795 has a CVSS score of 4.7 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Q: Which versions of python-apt are affected by CVE-2019-15795?

python-apt (pip) versions < 0.8.3ubuntu7.5 is affected.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2019-15795?

Yes. CVE-2019-15795 is fixed in 0.8.3ubuntu7.5, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3, 1.1.0, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.9.0ubuntu1.2. Upgrade to this version or later.

Q: Is CVE-2019-15795 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2019-15795 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

Q: What actually determines whether CVE-2019-15795 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2019-15795?

Upgrade: python-apt to 0.8.3ubuntu7.5 or later, python-apt to 0.9.3.5ubuntu3 or later, python-apt to 1.1.0 or later, python-apt to 1.6.5ubuntu0.1 or later, python-apt to 1.9.0ubuntu1.2 or later.

Summary

python-apt Flawed Package Integrity Check

python-apt only checks the MD5 sums of downloaded files in Version.fetch_binary() and Version.fetch_source() of apt/package.py in version 1.9.0ubuntu1 and earlier. This allows a man-in-the-middle attack which could potentially be used to install altered packages and has been fixed in versions 1.9.0ubuntu1.2, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm2, and 0.8.3ubuntu7.5.

Impact

The application uses a cryptographic algorithm known to have weaknesses, such as MD5, SHA-1, or DES. Typical impact: compromised confidentiality or integrity of protected data.

CVE-2019-15795 has a CVSS score of 4.7 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and user interaction required. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (0.8.3ubuntu7.5, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3, 1.1.0, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.9.0ubuntu1.2); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Affected versions

python-apt (< 0.8.3ubuntu7.5) python-apt (>= 0.9.0, < 0.9.3.5ubuntu3) python-apt (>= 1.0.0, < 1.1.0) python-apt (>= 1.2.0, < 1.6.5ubuntu0.1) python-apt (>= 1.7.0, < 1.9.0ubuntu1.2)

Security releases

python-apt → 0.8.3ubuntu7.5 (pip) python-apt → 0.9.3.5ubuntu3 (pip) python-apt → 1.1.0 (pip) python-apt → 1.6.5ubuntu0.1 (pip) python-apt → 1.9.0ubuntu1.2 (pip)

Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.

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Remediation advice

Upgrade the following packages to resolve this vulnerability:

python-apt to 0.8.3ubuntu7.5 or later; python-apt to 0.9.3.5ubuntu3 or later; python-apt to 1.1.0 or later; python-apt to 1.6.5ubuntu0.1 or later; python-apt to 1.9.0ubuntu1.2 or later

Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-15795? CVE-2019-15795 is a medium-severity use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm vulnerability in python-apt (pip), affecting versions < 0.8.3ubuntu7.5. It is fixed in 0.8.3ubuntu7.5, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3, 1.1.0, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.9.0ubuntu1.2. The application uses a cryptographic algorithm known to have weaknesses, such as MD5, SHA-1, or DES.
How severe is CVE-2019-15795? CVE-2019-15795 has a CVSS score of 4.7 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
Which versions of python-apt are affected by CVE-2019-15795? python-apt (pip) versions < 0.8.3ubuntu7.5 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2019-15795? Yes. CVE-2019-15795 is fixed in 0.8.3ubuntu7.5, 0.9.3.5ubuntu3, 1.1.0, 1.6.5ubuntu0.1, 1.9.0ubuntu1.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
Is CVE-2019-15795 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2019-15795 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
What actually determines whether CVE-2019-15795 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
How do I fix CVE-2019-15795?
- Upgrade python-apt to 0.8.3ubuntu7.5 or later
- Upgrade python-apt to 0.9.3.5ubuntu3 or later
- Upgrade python-apt to 1.1.0 or later
- Upgrade python-apt to 1.6.5ubuntu0.1 or later
- Upgrade python-apt to 1.9.0ubuntu1.2 or later

Other vulnerabilities in python-apt

CVE-IDSeverityPackage summary

CVE-2019-15796Mediumpython-apt: python-apt Does Not Check Hash Signature