Description
Python-RSA before 4.1 ignores leading '\0' bytes during decryption of ciphertext. This could conceivably have a security-relevant impact, e.g., by helping an attacker to infer that an application uses Python-RSA, or if the length of accepted ciphertext affects application behavior (such as by causing excessive memory allocation).
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 14 | python-rsa | 4.7.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | python-rsa | 4.7.2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | python-rsa | 4.7.2-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | python-rsa | 4.0-3ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-4478-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | python-rsa | 3.4.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-4478-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | python-rsa | 3.2.3-1.1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-4478-2 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | python-rsa | 3.1.2-1ubuntu0.1+esm1 | USN-4478-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenShift 4 | jenkins-2-plugins | 4.5.1596698303-1.el7 | RHSA-2020:3453 |
| Red Hat OpenShift 4 | python-rsa +1 | 4.5-1.el7 | RHSA-2020:3453 |
| Red Hat OpenShift 3 | jenkins | 2.235.2.1597220898-1.el7 | RHSA-2020:3541 |
| Red Hat OpenShift 3 | jenkins-2-plugins | 3.11.1597310986-1.el7 | RHSA-2020:3541 |
| Red Hat OpenShift 3 | openshift-ansible +4 | 3.11.272-1.git.0.79ab6e9.el7 | RHSA-2020:3541 |
| Red Hat OpenShift 3 | python-rsa +1 | 4.5-2.el7 | RHSA-2020:3541 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP3 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SLES 15 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SLES 12 | python-rsa | 3.1.4-12.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2237-1 |
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-4.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2253-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3287-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-4.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2253-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3287-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | python-rsa | 3.1.4-12.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2237-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3287-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python-rsa | 4.7.2-1.5 | openSUSE-SU-2026:12041-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:14163-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:11269-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-3.4.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | python-rsa | 3.4.2-lp152.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0901-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | python2-rsa | 3.4.1-1.amzn2.0.1 | ALAS2-2020-1470 |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | rsa | < 4.1 | 4.1 | GHSA-537h-rv9q-vvph |
Advisories 14
- openSUSE-SU-2026:12041-1 python313-rsa-4.9.1-1.4 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 5, 2026
- RHSA-2020:3541 Red Hat Security Advisory: OpenShift Container Platform 3.11 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 8, 2026
- RHSA-2020:3453 Red Hat Security Advisory: OpenShift Container Platform 4.5.6 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- USN-4478-2 python-rsa vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- USN-4478-1 python-rsa vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:3287-1 Security update for python-rsa SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 Security update for python-rsa SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2237-1 Security update for python-rsa SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0901-1 Security update for python-rsa SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:14163-1 python310-rsa-4.9-3.5 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11269-1 python36-rsa-4.7.2-1.5 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:2008-1 Security update for python-rsa SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2021:2253-1 Security update for python-rsa SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ALAS2-2020-1470 Moderate: python-rsa security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Aug 5, 2020
References
- https://github.com/sybrenstuvel/python-rsa/issues/146
- https://github.com/sybrenstuvel/python-rsa/issues/146#issuecomment-641845667
- FEDORA-2020-253ebe55ff vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2020-5ed5627d2b vendor-advisory
- USN-4478-1 vendor-advisory