CVE-2022-42919

7.8 HIGH
Published: November 07, 2022 Modified: November 03, 2025

Description

Python 3.9.x before 3.9.16 and 3.10.x before 3.10.9 on Linux allows local privilege escalation in a non-default configuration. The Python multiprocessing library, when used with the forkserver start method on Linux, allows pickles to be deserialized from any user in the same machine local network namespace, which in many system configurations means any user on the same machine. Pickles can execute arbitrary code. Thus, this allows for local user privilege escalation to the user that any forkserver process is running as. Setting multiprocessing.util.abstract_sockets_supported to False is a workaround. The forkserver start method for multiprocessing is not the default start method. This issue is Linux specific because only Linux supports abstract namespace sockets. CPython before 3.9 does not make use of Linux abstract namespace sockets by default. Support for users manually specifying an abstract namespace socket was added as a bugfix in 3.7.8 and 3.8.3, but users would need to make specific uncommon API calls in order to do that in CPython before 3.9.

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CVSS v3.x Details

0.0 Low Medium High Critical 10.0
Vector String
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Patch Vendor Advisory Exploit Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/97514
Source: cve@mitre.org
Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20221209-0006/
Source: cve@mitre.org
Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/python/cpython/compare/v3.10.8...v3.10.9
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Release Notes
https://github.com/python/cpython/compare/v3.9.15...v3.9.16
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Release Notes
https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/97514
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/97514#issuecomment-1310277840
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-02
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20221209-0006/
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Third Party Advisory

29 reference(s) from NVD

Quick Stats

CVSS v3 Score
7.8 / 10.0
EPSS (Exploit Probability)
0.0%
11th percentile
Exploitation Status
Not in CISA KEV

Weaknesses (CWE)

Affected Vendors

python fedoraproject