{"id":"CVE-2020-15523","title":"In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application","summary":"In Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application. This occurs because python3X.…","severity":"high","cvss":7.8,"cvssVector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","cwe":["CWE-427","CWE-908"],"vendor":"python","product":"python","affected":["python >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.10","python >= 3.6.0, < 3.6.12","python >= 3.7.0, < 3.7.9","python >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.4","python = 3.8.4","python = 3.9.0","snapcenter"],"patched":["python 3.8.4"],"published":"2020-07-04","updated":"2026-10-08","sourceUpdated":"2026-10-08T21:17:24.240","source":"NVD","sourceUrl":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15523","references":[{"url":"https://bugs.python.org/issue29778","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/21297","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210312-0004/","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://bugs.python.org/issue29778","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/21297","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210312-0004/","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"}],"tags":["nvd"],"epss":0.00919,"epssPercentile":0.5902,"ingestedAt":"2026-10-08T22:11:53.718Z","slug":"CVE-2020-15523","body":"## Overview\n\nIn Python 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.8, 3.8 through 3.8.4rc1, and 3.9 through 3.9.0b4 on Windows, a Trojan horse python3.dll might be used in cases where CPython is embedded in a native application. This occurs because python3X.dll may use an invalid search path for python3.dll loading (after Py_SetPath has been used). NOTE: this issue CANNOT occur when using python.exe from a standard (non-embedded) Python installation on Windows.\n\n## Affected\n\n- `python >= 3.5.0, < 3.5.10`\n- `python >= 3.6.0, < 3.6.12`\n- `python >= 3.7.0, < 3.7.9`\n- `python >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.4`\n- `python = 3.8.4`\n- `python = 3.9.0`\n- `snapcenter`\n\n## Remediation\n\nUpgrade past the affected range:\n\n- `python 3.8.4`","depth":"twilight","depthScore":43,"depthScoreParts":{"impact":42.9,"likelihood":0.2,"exploitation":0,"ransomware":0},"changes":[]}