Integer overflow in Python - CVE-2016-5636
Published: July 17, 2025
Vulnerability identifier: #VU113029
CSH Severity: High
CVSS v4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber
CVE-ID: CVE-2016-5636
CWE-ID: CWE-190
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vendor: Python.org
Affected software:
Python
Python
Detailed vulnerability description
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The vulnerability exists due to integer overflow within the get_data() function in zipimport.c. A remote attacker can pass specially crafted data to the application, trigger an integer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.
How to mitigate CVE-2016-5636
Install update from vendor's website.
Sources
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00040.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2586.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/15/15
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/06/16/1
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91247
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038138
- http://www.splunk.com/view/SP-CAAAPSV
- http://www.splunk.com/view/SP-CAAAPUE
- https://bugs.python.org/issue26171
- https://docs.python.org/3.4/whatsnew/changelog.html#python-3-4-5
- https://docs.python.org/3.5/whatsnew/changelog.html#python-3-5-2
- https://hg.python.org/cpython/raw-file/v2.7.12/Misc/NEWS
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/02/msg00011.html
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-18