CVE Catalog

CVE-2020-15523

HighCVSS 7.8
Published: Updated: Translated: NVD NIST

Exploitation Probability (EPSS)

Elevated risk
0.92%

59th percentile - higher than 59% of all known CVEs

Summary

In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used when 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). This issue cannot occur when using python.exe from a standard (non-embedded) Python installation on Windows.

Risk Assessment

An attacker could replace python3.dll and achieve code execution in the context of the application embedding Python. This only affects applications embedding CPython, not standard Python installations.

Recommendation

Update Python to a version containing the fix (newer than 3.6.10, 3.7.8, 3.8.4rc1, or 3.9.0b4) or secure DLL search directories against unauthorized write access.

Other vulnerabilities in Python

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Original NVD description (English source)

In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 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.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS