Description
The CGIHTTPServer module in Python 2.7.5 and 3.3.4 does not properly handle URLs in which URL encoding is used for path separators, which allows remote attackers to read script source code or conduct directory traversal attacks and execute unintended code via a crafted character sequence, as demonstrated by a %2f separator.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 11 | python2.7 | 2.7.8-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | python2.7 | 2.7.6-8ubuntu0.2 | USN-2653-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | python3.4 | 3.4.0-2ubuntu1.1 | USN-2653-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | python +6 | 2.7.5-34.el7 | RHSA-2015:2101 |
| RHEL 6 | python +5 | 2.6.6-64.el6 | RHSA-2015:1330 |
| RHEL 2 | python27 +2 | 1.1-17.el6 | RHSA-2015:1064 |
| RHEL 2 | python27-python +6 | 2.7.8-3.el6 | RHSA-2015:1064 |
| RHEL 2 | python27-python-pip | 1.5.6-5.el6 | RHSA-2015:1064 |
| RHEL 2 | python27-python-setuptools | 0.9.8-3.el6 | RHSA-2015:1064 |
| RHEL 2 | python27-python-simplejson | 3.2.0-2.el6 | RHSA-2015:1064 |
| RHEL 2 | python27-python-wheel | 0.24.0-2.el6 | RHSA-2015:1064 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP1 | python | 2.7.17-7.32.2 | SUSE-SU-2020:0234-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | python-base | 2.7.17-7.32.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0234-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | python3 +1 | 3.6.10-3.42.2 | SUSE-SU-2020:0114-1 |
| SLES 15 | python | 2.7.17-7.32.2 | SUSE-SU-2020:0234-1 |
| SLES 15 | python-base | 2.7.17-7.32.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0234-1 |
| SLES 15 | python3 +1 | 3.6.10-3.42.2 | SUSE-SU-2020:0114-1 |
| SLES 12 | python +1 | 2.7.9-14.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1344-1 |
| SLES 12 | python-doc | 2.7.9-14.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:1344-1 |
| SLES 2 | python | 2.7.17-7.32.2 | SUSE-SU-2020:0234-1 |
| SLES 2 | python-base | 2.7.17-7.32.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0234-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | python +1 | 2.7.9-14.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1344-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | python-doc | 2.7.9-14.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:1344-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python | 2.7.18-8.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11202-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python-base | 2.7.12-1.4 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10536-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python3 | 3.5.1-3.8 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10100-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python310 | 3.10.0rc1-4.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11283-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python311 | 3.11.0b1-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12089-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python312 | 3.12.0a7-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12910-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python313 | 3.13.0~b3-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:14109-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python314 | 3.14.0~a1-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:14434-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python315 | 3.15.0~a1-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2025:15713-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python36 | 3.6.15-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11284-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python38 | 3.8.12-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11285-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python39 | 3.9.7-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11286-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | python3 +1 | 3.6.10-lp151.6.7.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0086-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | python +6 | 2.7.5-34.0.1.el7 | ELSA-2015-2101 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | python27 +2 | 1.1-20.el7 | ELSA-2015-1064 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | python27-python +6 | 2.7.8-3.el7 | ELSA-2015-1064 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | python27-python-pip | 1.5.6-5.el7 | ELSA-2015-1064 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | python27-python-setuptools | 0.9.8-5.el7 | ELSA-2015-1064 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | python27-python-simplejson | 3.2.0-3.el7 | ELSA-2015-1064 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | python27-python-wheel | 0.24.0-2.el7 | ELSA-2015-1064 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Python CGIHTTPServer - Encoded Directory Traversal EDB-33894 · webapps · Jun 27, 2014 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 23
- RHSA-2015:2101 Red Hat Security Advisory: python security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 5, 2026
- RHSA-2015:1330 Red Hat Security Advisory: python security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 5, 2026
- RHSA-2015:1064 Red Hat Security Advisory: python27 security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 5, 2026
- USN-2653-1 python2.7, python3.2, python3.4 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2025:15713-1 python315-3.15.0~a1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11285-1 python38-3.8.12-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:14434-1 python314-3.14.0~a1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0086-1 Security update for python3 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1344-1 Security update for python SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11286-1 python39-3.9.7-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12910-1 python312-3.12.0a7-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11283-1 python310-3.10.0rc1-4.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12089-1 python311-3.11.0b1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:14109-1 python313-3.13.0~b3-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:0114-1 Security update for python3 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10100-1 python3-3.5.1-3.8 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11284-1 python36-3.6.15-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10536-1 libpython2_7-1_0-2.7.12-1.4 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2025-2521 Python: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 9, 2025
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11202-1 python-2.7.18-8.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2020:0234-1 Security update for python SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2015-1064 Moderate: python27 security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Feb 4, 2016
- ELSA-2015-2101 Moderate: python security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 23, 2015