# CVE-2016-4043: Chameleon in Plone allows Authentication Bypass

> Authenticated users can bypass Restricted Python sandbox restrictions by creating or editing templates, potentially leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.9 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Feb 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6h8x-73fx-q2h9, PYSEC-2017-57

## What is CVE-2016-4043?

CVE-2016-4043 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Plone Plone, published on 24 Feb 2017. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Chameleon (five.pt) in Plone 5.0rc1 through 5.1a1 allows remote authenticated users to bypass Restricted Python by leveraging permissions to create or edit templates.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4043?

5 open source packages ship an affected version, including plone and Plone. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `plone` | PyPI | All versions | None |
| `plone` | PyPI | From 5.0rc1 to 5.0.4 | None |
| `plone` | PyPI | From 5.0rc1 | 5.1a2 |
| `Plone` | PyPI | All versions | None |
| `Plone` | PyPI | From 5.0rc1 to 5.0.4 | None |

Products: Plone Plone.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-4043?

Upgrade plone to 5.1a2 or later.

## Is CVE-2016-4043 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-4043 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Plone Plone

- [CVE-2021-33509](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33509/): Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource in Plone (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2020-35190](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35190/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-7941](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7941/): Plone Unauthenticated Write Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2011-3587](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3587/): Zope Command Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2021-33926](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33926/): Server-Side Request Forgery in Plone CMS (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-4043 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-4043 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Plone Plone, published on 24 Feb 2017. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-4043 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- plone (PyPI): affected all versions; no fix listed
- plone (PyPI): affected from 5.0rc1 up to 5.0.4; no fix listed
- plone (PyPI): affected from 5.0rc1; fixed in 5.1a2
- Plone (PyPI): affected all versions; no fix listed
- Plone (PyPI): affected from 5.0rc1 up to 5.0.4; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4043/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4043/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4043
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4043
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-4043

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4043/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.