python: Missing salt initialization in _elementtree.c module
Published Sep 25, 2018
7.5
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 10.91%
Description
Python's elementtree C accelerator failed to initialise Expat's hash salt during initialization. This could make it easy to conduct denial of service attacks against Expat by constructing an XML document that would cause pathological hash collisions in Expat's internal data structures, consuming large amounts CPU and RAM. The vulnerability exists in Python versions 3.7.0, 3.6.0 through 3.6.6, 3.5.0 through 3.5.6, 3.4.0 through 3.4.9, 2.7.0 through 2.7.15.
Affected products
-
- Version 3.8, 3.7, 3.6, 3.5, 3.4, 2.7StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Python Project | Python | n/a |
|
Configuration 1
Configuration 2
- 12.04
- 14.04
- 16.04
- 18.04
Configuration 3
- 8.0
- 9.0
Configuration 4
- 30
Configuration 6
- 7.0
- 7.0
- 7.0
No data.
Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7
ansible-tower-34/ansible-tower-memcached:1.4.15-28
Fixed · RHBA-2020:0547
Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7
ansible-tower-35/ansible-tower-memcached:1.4.15-28
Fixed · RHBA-2020:0547
Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7
ansible-tower-37/ansible-tower-memcached-rhel7:1.4.15-28
Fixed · RHBA-2020:0547
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
python-0:2.7.5-86.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:2030
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Advanced Update Support
python-0:2.7.5-63.el7_4
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1346
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Telco Extended Update Support
python-0:2.7.5-63.el7_4
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1346
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Update Services for SAP Solutions
python-0:2.7.5-63.el7_4
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1346
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 Extended Update Support
python-0:2.7.5-74.el7_5
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1268
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 Extended Update Support
python-0:2.7.5-83.el7_6
Fixed · RHSA-2020:1462
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-12.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2019:3725
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:3725
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 EUS
python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 EUS
python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 EUS
python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 EUS
python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 EUS
rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:3725
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS
python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS
python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:1260
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS
rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:3725
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7 EUS
rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2019:3725
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
python
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
python
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
python27:2.7/python2
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
python3
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
python36:3.6/python36
Not affected
Red Hat Software Collections
rh-python35-python
Will not fix
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7 | ansible-tower-34/ansible-tower-memcached:1.4.15-28 | Fixed | RHBA-2020:0547 |
| Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7 | ansible-tower-35/ansible-tower-memcached:1.4.15-28 | Fixed | RHBA-2020:0547 |
| Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7 | ansible-tower-37/ansible-tower-memcached-rhel7:1.4.15-28 | Fixed | RHBA-2020:0547 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | python-0:2.7.5-86.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2030 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Advanced Update Support | python-0:2.7.5-63.el7_4 | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1346 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Telco Extended Update Support | python-0:2.7.5-63.el7_4 | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1346 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Update Services for SAP Solutions | python-0:2.7.5-63.el7_4 | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1346 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 Extended Update Support | python-0:2.7.5-74.el7_5 | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1268 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 Extended Update Support | python-0:2.7.5-83.el7_6 | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1462 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-12.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3725 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3725 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 EUS | python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 EUS | python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 EUS | python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 EUS | python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 EUS | rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3725 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS | python27-python-0:2.7.16-4.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS | python27-python-jinja2-0:2.6-15.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1260 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS | rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3725 |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7 EUS | rh-python36-python-0:3.6.9-2.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3725 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | python | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | python | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | python27:2.7/python2 | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | python3 | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | python36:3.6/python36 | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Software Collections | rh-python35-python | Will not fix | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (20 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 10.91% (0.10911) | 95.75th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 10.91% (0.10911) | 95.30th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 1.90% (0.01898) | 82.67th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 7.05% (0.07048) | 90.59th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 1.30% (0.01300) | 78.34th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.63% (0.00630) | 79.73th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 10, 2024 | 0.89% (0.00892) | 82.78th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 14, 2024 | 0.63% (0.00630) | 78.92th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 27, 2024 | 0.44% (0.00444) | 74.43th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 16, 2024 | 0.52% (0.00523) | 76.24th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 18, 2023 | 0.75% (0.00746) | 78.72th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 8, 2023 | 0.89% (0.00892) | 80.43th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 1.31% (0.01308) | 83.80th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 2.69% (0.02686) | 82.85th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 2.69% (0.02686) | 81.17th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 2.69% (0.02686) | 62.66th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 4.30% (0.04302) | 74.66th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 4.30% (0.04302) | 74.44th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 4.30% (0.04302) | 83.56th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 4.30% (0.04302) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (20)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00040.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105396 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041740 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1260 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2030 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3725 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-14647 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.python.org/issue34623 x_refsource_MISCIssue TrackingPatchVendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1631822 Issue Tracking
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-14647 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1b103833cb5bc8466e24ff0ecc5e75b45a705334ab6a444e64e840a0%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/06/msg00022.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/06/msg00023.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RBJCB2HWOJLP3L7CUQHJHNBHLSVOXJE5/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORA
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14647
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3817-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3817-2/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14647
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4306 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4307 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.