Untrusted search path in Python - CVE-2020-15801
Published: July 17, 2020 / Updated: June 3, 2025
Vulnerability identifier: #VU110181
CSH Severity: High
CVSS v4: 9.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2020-15801
CWE-ID: CWE-426
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote non-authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code.
In Python 3.8.4, sys.path restrictions specified in a python38._pth file are ignored, allowing code to be loaded from arbitrary locations. The <executable-name>._pth file (e.g., the python._pth file) is not affected.
Affected software
Python
How to mitigate CVE-2020-15801
Install update from vendor's website.
Python - addressed in versions 3.7.9, 3.8.5