Multiple buffer overflows in Python 2.5.2 and earlier on 32bit platforms allow…
Priority MEDIUM 40CWE-120Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-120 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Multiple buffer overflows in Python 2.5.2 and earlier on 32bit platforms allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or have unspecified other impact via a long string that leads to incorrect memory allocation during Unicode string processing, related to the unicode_resize function and the PyMem_RESIZE macro.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.04493 91st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 3 advisories
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.4.6; 2.5.0 to before 2.5.3 | Vulnerable | python-pillow |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.06 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 8.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.4.6; 2.5.0 to before 2.5.3 Vulnerable ·python-pillow
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.06 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 8.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2009:1177 Released 2009-07-27 · Red Hat rating Moderatepython security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2, python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2.i386, python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2.ia64 +17
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2, python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2.i386, python-devel-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2, python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2.i386, python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2.ia64 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2, python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2.i386, python-2.3.4-14.7.el4_8.2.ia64 +12
- RHSA-2009:1178 Released 2009-07-27 · Red Hat rating Moderatepython security update
- Red Hat Desktop version 3 python-2.2.3-6.11, python-2.2.3-6.11.i386, python-devel-2.2.3-6.11 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 python-2.2.3-6.11, python-2.2.3-6.11.i386, python-2.2.3-6.11.ia64 +13
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 python-2.2.3-6.11, python-2.2.3-6.11.i386, python-2.2.3-6.11.ia64 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 python-2.2.3-6.11, python-2.2.3-6.11.i386, python-2.2.3-6.11.ia64 +9
- RHSA-2009:1176 Released 2009-07-27 · Red Hat rating Moderatepython security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) python-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6, python-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6.i386, python-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6.ia64 +13
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) python-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6, python-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6.i386, python-tools-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6 +3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) python-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6, python-devel-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6, python-devel-2.4.3-24.el5_3.6.i386
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Desktop version 3 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1178 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1176 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1178 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1177 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1176 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1176 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1177 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1178 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1177 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1178 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1177 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2008-3142
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-p7xr-j3cg-2w5r
References
Advisory 15
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:8422
- SUSE-SR:2008:017
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11466
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
- GLSA-200807-16
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3438
- APPLE-SA-2009-02-12
- USN-632-1
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=232137
- MDVSA-2008:164
- http://bugs.python.org/issue2620
- http://www.novell.com/support/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=InfoDocument-patchbuilder-readme5032900
- DSA-1667
- MDVSA-2008:163
- SSA:2008-217-01
Sources
- CVE-2008-3142 · CVE Program
- CVE-2008-3142 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-p7xr-j3cg-2w5r · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2008-3142 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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