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Python CVE-2018-14647

HIGH
Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) (CWE-335)
2018-09-25 secalert@redhat.com
Denial Of Service Python Debian Red Hat Canonical Debian Linux Enterprise Linux Desktop Enterprise Linux Server Enterprise Linux Workstation Fedora Leap Ubuntu Linux Opensuse Fedoraproject
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-335
OWASP Top 10:2025
A04:2025 - Cryptographic Failures
ASVS 5.0
V11 - Cryptography Proper seed usage
Impact

CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%.
Patch available 11.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Python's elementtree C accelerator failed to initialise Expat's hash salt during initialization. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-335. 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 include: Python, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora, Opensuse Leap. Version information: through 3.6.6.

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

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.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
11.3%
Top 5% exploitable
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low
NVD CVE.org EPSS VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 11.3%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

49
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +11
CVSS: +38
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Denial of Service MEDIUM

Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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References

Advisories & patches
PATCH https://bugs.python.org/issue34623 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/124430 REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00040.html REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105396 REF http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041740 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1260 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2030 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3725 REF https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-14647 REF https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1b103833cb5bc8466e24ff0ecc5e75b45a705334ab6a444e64e840a0%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E REF https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/06/msg00022.html REF https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/06/msg00023.html REF https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RBJCB2HWOJLP3L7CUQHJHNBHLSVOXJE5/ REF https://usn.ubuntu.com/3817-1/ REF https://usn.ubuntu.com/3817-2/ REF https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4306 REF https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4307

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