CVE-2026-6100
HIGHDescription
Use-after-free (UAF) was possible in the `lzma.LZMADecompressor`, `bz2.BZ2Decompressor`, and `gzip.GzipFile` when a memory allocation fails with a `MemoryError` and the decompression instance is re-used. This scenario can be triggered if the process is under memory pressure. The fix cleans up the dangling pointer in this specific error condition. The vulnerability is only present if the program re-uses decompressor instances across multiple decompression calls even after a `MemoryError` is raised during decompression. Using the helper functions to one-shot decompress data such as `lzma.decompress()`, `bz2.decompress()`, `gzip.decompress()`, and `zlib.decompress()` are not affected as a new decompressor instance is used per call. If the decompressor instance is not re-used after an error condition, this usage is similarly not vulnerable.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploit Intelligence
Low risk: more likely to be exploited than 40% of all known CVEs.
References
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/47128e64f98c3a20271138a98c2922bea2a3ee0e
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/6a5f79c8d7bbf22b083b240910c7a8781a59437d
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/8fc66aef6d7b3ae58f43f5c66f9366cc8cbbfcd2
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c3cf71c3366fe49acb776a639405c0eea6169c20
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/e20c6c9667c99ecaab96e1a2b3767082841ffc8b
- https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/148395
- https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/148396
- https://mail.python.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/HTWB2Z6KT5QQX4RYEZAFININDHNOSIF3/
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/13/10
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Start freeThis product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-04-17.