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TI-2025-11713 Aliases CVE-2025-12781GHSA-hfpw-x3fg-wmmg

base64.b64decode() always accepts "+/" characters, despite setting altchars

Priority LOW 30CWE-704Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Attack requirements
Present
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · Low · None
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 9 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

When passing data to the b64decode(), standard_b64decode(), and urlsafe_b64decode() functions in the "base64" module the characters "+/" will always be accepted, regardless of the value of "altchars" parameter, typically used to establish an "alternative base64 alphabet" such as the URL safe alphabet. This behavior matches what is recommended in earlier base64 RFCs, but newer RFCs now recommend either dropping characters outside the specified base64 alphabet or raising an error. The old behavior has the possibility of causing data integrity issues. This behavior can only be insecure if your application uses an alternate base64 alphabet (without "+/"). If your application does not use the "altchars" parameter or the urlsafe_b64decode() function, then your application does not use an alternative base64 alphabet. The attached patches DOES NOT make the base64-decode behavior raise an error, as this would be a change in behavior and break existing programs. Instead, the patch deprecates the behavior which will be replaced with the newly recommended behavior in a future version of Python. Users are recommended to mitigate by verifying user-controlled inputs match the base64 alphabet they are expecting or verify that their application would not be affected if the b64decode() functions accepted "+" or "/" outside of altchars.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00859 58th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial CPython (Python Software Foundation): 3.13.10, 3.14.1, 3.15.0a2Red Hat: 9 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Python Software FoundationCPythonbefore 3.13.10; 3.14.0 to before 3.14.1; 3.15.0a1 to before 3.15.0a23.13.10, 3.14.1, 3.15.0a2Patch availableCNA
  • CPython VendorPython Software Foundation Affected before 3.13.10; 3.14.0 to before 3.14.1; 3.15.0a1 to before 3.15.0a2 Fixed in 3.13.10, 3.14.1, 3.15.0a2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 3.13.10; 3.14.0 to before 3.14.1Vulnerablepython-pillow
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.15.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:*3.15.0 alpha1Vulnerablepython-pillow
  • cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.13.10; 3.14.0 to before 3.14.1 Vulnerable ·python-pillow
  • cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.15.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.15.0 alpha1 Vulnerable ·python-pillow

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA CPython (Python Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.13.10, 3.14.1, 3.15.0a2

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Hardened ImagesAffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat OpenShift Dev SpacesAffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-12781
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hfpw-x3fg-wmmg
  3. 2026-10-25 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

  • TI-2024-07037 Quadratic complexity parsing cookies with backslashes CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2024-11791 Bypass extraction filter to modify file metadata outside extraction directory CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
  • TI-2024-00411 Quoted zip-bomb protection for zipfile CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.2
  • TI-2026-13296 `HTTPPasswordMgr` can send saved HTTPS credentials via HTTP because of incorrect scheme matching CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.0
  • TI-2024-06422 Email header injection due to unquoted newlines CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
  • TI-2026-04606 Possible to hijack modules in current working directory CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.6
See all 83 →

Sources