CVE-2011-4953 — cobbler
Fix: cobbler/cobbler@1b4f9ecCVE-2011-4953 is a Improper Input Validation vulnerability in cobbler. A fix is available for cobbler — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Cobbler vulnerable to code injection via unsafe YAML loading
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Real-World Exposure
cobblerReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects PyPI packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
The set_mgmt_parameters function in item.py in cobbler before 2.2.2 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to the use of the yaml.load function instead of the yaml.safe_load function, as demonstrated using Puppet.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | cobbler | all versions | 2.6.0pip install --upgrade 'cobbler==2.6.0' |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for cobbler, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update cobbler to 2.6.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2011-4953 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like CVE-2011-4953 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to CVE-2011-4953. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2011-4953 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds CVE-2011-4953 across PyPI dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.