Null bytes accepted in socket.getaddrinfo() host and port
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Adjacent network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- Passive
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · 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
CPython versions before 3.16.0 have a flaw where socket.getaddrinfo() accepts null bytes in its host and port parameters (CWE-158). The values can be silently truncated at the null byte. An attacker with high privileges and adjacent network access can trigger this with user interaction.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
socket.getaddrinfo() previously accepted null bytes within *host* and *port* parameters which can cause the values to be silently truncated.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python Software Foundation | CPython | before 3.16.0 | 3.16.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- CPython VendorPython Software Foundation Affected before 3.16.0 Fixed in 3.16.0 Patch available CNA
CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1
Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | — | — | python-pillow |
- cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·python-pillow
Remediation
Upgrade CPython to 3.16.0 or later. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, 7, 8 and 9, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3, Red Hat Hardened Images, Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization 4 and Self-service automation portal 2 as affected with no fix available. Red Hat has no fix planned for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA CPython (Python Software Foundation) Fixed in 3.16.0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Self-service automation portal 2 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-29 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-116566
- 2026-10-29 Alias added: GHSA-q27h-3599-9x7j
- 2026-10-30 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-10-30 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
More Python Software Foundation vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2026-116566 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-116566 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-q27h-3599-9x7j · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-116566 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences