CVE-2020-15523

Description

In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4, and 3.9 through 3.9.0 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application. This occurs because python3X.dll may use an invalid search path for python3.dll loading (after Py_SetPath has been used). NOTE: this issue CANNOT occur when using python.exe from a standard (non-embedded) Python installation on Windows.

How to fix CVE-2020-15523

To remediate CVE-2020-15523, upgrade the affected package to a fixed version below.

• —upgrade to 3.5.10 or later
• —upgrade to 3.5.10 or later
• —upgrade to 3.5.10 or later

Is CVE-2020-15523 being exploited?

Low — EPSS is 0.1%, meaning exploitation activity has not been observed at scale.

Affected packages (3)

• >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.10, >= 3.6.0, < 3.6.12, >= 3.7.0, < 3.7.9, >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.4
• >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.10, >= 3.6.0, < 3.6.12, >= 3.7.0, < 3.7.9, >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.4
• >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.10, >= 3.6.0, < 3.6.12, >= 3.7.0, < 3.7.9, >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.4

CVSS scores

References (4)

• WEBbugs.python.org/issue29778
• WEBgithub.com/python/cpython/pull/21297
• WEBnvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15523
• WEBsecurity.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210312-0004/