---
id: CVE-2015-20107
title: >-
  In Python (aka CPython) up to 3.10.8, the mailcap module does not add escape
  characters into commands discovered in the system mailcap file
summary: >-
  In Python (aka CPython) up to 3.10.8, the mailcap module does not add escape
  characters into commands discovered in the system mailcap file. This may allow
  attackers to inject shell commands into applications that call
  mailcap.findmatch …
severity: high
cvss: 7.6
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L'
cwe:
  - CWE-77
vendor: python
product: python
affected:
  - 'python >= 3.7.0, <= 3.7.15'
  - 'python >= 3.8.0, <= 3.8.15'
  - 'python >= 3.9.0, <= 3.9.15'
  - 'python >= 3.10.0, < 3.10.8'
  - active_iq_unified_manager
  - ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility
  - snapcenter
  - fedora = 35
  - fedora = 36
  - fedora = 37
patched:
  - python 3.10.8
published: '2022-04-13'
updated: '2026-10-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-08T01:16:30.680'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-20107'
references:
  - url: 'https://bugs.python.org/issue24778'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/68966'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00024.html'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/06/msg00039.html'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/46KWPTI72SSEOF53DOYQBQOCN4QQB2GE/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/53TQZFLS6O3FLIMVSXFEEPZSWLDZLBOX/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/57NECACX333A3BBZM2TR2VZ4ZE3UG3SN/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5DBVY4YC2P6EPZZ2DROOXHDOWZ4BJFLW/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6QIKVSW3H6W2GQGDE5DTIWLGFNH6KKEW/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AKGMYDVKI3XNM27B6I6RQ6QV3TVJAUCG/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ERYMM2QVDPOJLX4LYXWYIQN5FOIJLDRY/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/F3LNY2NHM6J22O6Q5ANOE3SZRK3OACKR/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FCIO2W4DUVVMI6L52QCC4TT2B3K5VWHS/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FIRUTX47BJD2HYJDLMI7JJBVCYFAPKAQ/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GPCLGZZJPVXFWUWVV5WCD5FNUAFLKBDN/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HAI2GBC7WKH7J5NH6J2IW5RT3VF2SF5M/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFGV7P2PYFBMK32OKHCAC2ZPJQV5AUDF/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KAY6VBNVEFUXKJF37WFHYXUSRDEK34N3/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MYG3EMFR7ZHC46TDNM7SNWO64A3W7EUF/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ONXSGLASNLGFL57YU6WT6Y5YURSFV43U/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PTTZGLD2YBMMG6U6F5HOTPOGGPBIURMA/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/UIOJUZ5JMEMGSKNISTOVI4PDP36FDL5Y/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/W5664BGZVTA46LQDNTYX5THG6CN4FYJX/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WXF6MQ74HVIDDSR5AE2UDR24I6D4FEPC/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XO2H6CKWLRGTTZCGUQVELW6LUH437Q3O/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Y4E2WBEJ42CGLGDHD6ZXOLZ2W6G3YOVD/
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://python-security.readthedocs.io/vuln/mailcap-shell-injection.html'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-02'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220616-0001/'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'https://bugs.python.org/issue24778'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/68966'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00024.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/06/msg00039.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/12/msg00000.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/46KWPTI72SSEOF53DOYQBQOCN4QQB2GE/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/53TQZFLS6O3FLIMVSXFEEPZSWLDZLBOX/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/57NECACX333A3BBZM2TR2VZ4ZE3UG3SN/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5DBVY4YC2P6EPZZ2DROOXHDOWZ4BJFLW/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6QIKVSW3H6W2GQGDE5DTIWLGFNH6KKEW/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AKGMYDVKI3XNM27B6I6RQ6QV3TVJAUCG/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ERYMM2QVDPOJLX4LYXWYIQN5FOIJLDRY/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/F3LNY2NHM6J22O6Q5ANOE3SZRK3OACKR/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FCIO2W4DUVVMI6L52QCC4TT2B3K5VWHS/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FIRUTX47BJD2HYJDLMI7JJBVCYFAPKAQ/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GPCLGZZJPVXFWUWVV5WCD5FNUAFLKBDN/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HAI2GBC7WKH7J5NH6J2IW5RT3VF2SF5M/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFGV7P2PYFBMK32OKHCAC2ZPJQV5AUDF/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KAY6VBNVEFUXKJF37WFHYXUSRDEK34N3/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MYG3EMFR7ZHC46TDNM7SNWO64A3W7EUF/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ONXSGLASNLGFL57YU6WT6Y5YURSFV43U/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PTTZGLD2YBMMG6U6F5HOTPOGGPBIURMA/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/UIOJUZ5JMEMGSKNISTOVI4PDP36FDL5Y/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/W5664BGZVTA46LQDNTYX5THG6CN4FYJX/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WXF6MQ74HVIDDSR5AE2UDR24I6D4FEPC/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XO2H6CKWLRGTTZCGUQVELW6LUH437Q3O/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Y4E2WBEJ42CGLGDHD6ZXOLZ2W6G3YOVD/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://python-security.readthedocs.io/vuln/mailcap-shell-injection.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-02'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220616-0001/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-10-07T21:22:28.407842Z'
scores:
  nvd: 7.6
  adp: 7.8
epss: 0.07074
epssPercentile: 0.94055
exploits:
  github: 1
  githubRepos:
    - 'https://github.com/codeskipper/python-patrol'
  checkedAt: '2026-10-08T02:03:03.650Z'
exploitAvailable: true
ingestedAt: '2026-10-08T01:01:40.728Z'
---

## Overview

In Python (aka CPython) up to 3.10.8, the mailcap module does not add escape characters into commands discovered in the system mailcap file. This may allow attackers to inject shell commands into applications that call mailcap.findmatch with untrusted input (if they lack validation of user-provided filenames or arguments). The fix is also back-ported to 3.7, 3.8, 3.9

## Affected

- `python >= 3.7.0, <= 3.7.15`
- `python >= 3.8.0, <= 3.8.15`
- `python >= 3.9.0, <= 3.9.15`
- `python >= 3.10.0, < 3.10.8`
- `active_iq_unified_manager`
- `ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility`
- `snapcenter`
- `fedora = 35`
- `fedora = 36`
- `fedora = 37`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `python 3.10.8`