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TI-2008-05679 Aliases CVE-2008-5983GHSA-4jhg-wfq8-3vgm

Untrusted search path vulnerability in the PySys_SetArgv API function in Python 2.6 and…

Priority LOW 31CWE-426Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
— Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
Attack complexity
Medium
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Complete · Complete · Complete
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-426.

Summary

Untrusted search path vulnerability in the PySys_SetArgv API function in Python 2.6 and earlier, and possibly later versions, prepends an empty string to sys.path when the argv[0] argument does not contain a path separator, which might allow local users to execute arbitrary code via a Trojan horse Python file in the current working directory.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00491 42nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2.6.6; 3.1.0 to before 3.1.3Vulnerablepython-pillow
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*13VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:*8.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:*10.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*11.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*11.10VulnerableCanonical
  • cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.6.6; 3.1.0 to before 3.1.3 Vulnerable ·python-pillow
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 8.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 10.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical

Remediation

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2011:0027 Released 2011-01-13 · Red Hat rating Low
    python security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) python-2.4.3-43.el5, python-2.4.3-43.el5.i386, python-2.4.3-43.el5.ia64 +17
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) python-2.4.3-43.el5, python-2.4.3-43.el5.i386, python-libs-2.4.3-43.el5 +5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) python-2.4.3-43.el5, python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5, python-devel-2.4.3-43.el5.i386

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server)Fixed RHSA-2011:0027
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client)Fixed RHSA-2011:0027
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client)Fixed RHSA-2011:0027

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2008-5983
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4jhg-wfq8-3vgm

References

Advisory 12

Other 4

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences