# CVE-2019-7653: Code injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via malicious Python modules in the current working directory when using specific Debian CLI tools.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 9 Feb 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2019-7653, DLA-1717-1, DLA-2861-1, GHSA-34gp-mhv2-cg2f, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-7653, USN-4535-1

## What is CVE-2019-7653?

CVE-2019-7653 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 9 Feb 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Debian python-rdflib-tools 4.2.2-1 package for RDFLib 4.2.2 has CLI tools that can load Python modules from the current working directory, allowing code injection, because "python -m" looks in this directory, as demonstrated by rdf2dot. This issue is specific to use of the debian/scripts directory.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-7653?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Rdflib Project Rdflib.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-7653?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2019-7653 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-7653 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-7653 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-7653 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 9 Feb 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-7653 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2019-7653/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7653/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-7653
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-7653
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-7653

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7653/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.