{"id":"CVE-2020-15801","title":"In Python 3.8.4, sys.path restrictions specified in a python38._pth file are ignored, allowing code to be loaded from arbitrary locations","summary":"In Python 3.8.4, sys.path restrictions specified in a python38._pth file are ignored, allowing code to be loaded from arbitrary locations. The <executable-name>._pth file (e.g., the python._pth file) is not affected.","severity":"critical","cvss":9.8,"cvssVector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","cwe":["CWE-426"],"vendor":"python","product":"python","affected":["python >= 3.7.0, < 3.7.9","python >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.5","max_data"],"patched":["python 3.8.5"],"published":"2020-07-17","updated":"2026-10-14","sourceUpdated":"2026-10-14T10:17:30.750","source":"NVD","sourceUrl":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15801","references":[{"url":"https://bugs.python.org/issue41304","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/21495","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0003/","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://bugs.python.org/issue41304","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/21495","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0003/","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html","label":"0b142b55-0307-4c5a-b3c9-f314f3fb7c5e"}],"tags":["nvd","cve.org"],"epss":0.03455,"epssPercentile":0.88753,"ingestedAt":"2026-10-14T10:25:41.178Z","slug":"CVE-2020-15801","body":"## Overview\n\nIn Python 3.8.4, sys.path restrictions specified in a python38._pth file are ignored, allowing code to be loaded from arbitrary locations. The <executable-name>._pth file (e.g., the python._pth file) is not affected.\n\n## Affected\n\n- `python >= 3.7.0, < 3.7.9`\n- `python >= 3.8.0, < 3.8.5`\n- `max_data`\n\n## Remediation\n\nUpgrade past the affected range:\n\n- `python 3.8.5`","depth":"midnight","depthScore":55,"depthScoreParts":{"impact":53.9,"likelihood":0.7,"exploitation":0,"ransomware":0},"changes":[]}