---
id: CVE-2023-33185
aliases:
  - GHSA-qg36-9jxh-fj25
  - PYSEC-2023-82
title: Incorrect signature verification in django-ses
summary: Incorrect signature verification in django-ses
severity: medium
cvss: 4.6
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L'
vendor: django-ses
product: django-ses
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - django-ses < 3.5.0
patched:
  - django-ses 3.5.0
published: '2023-05-22'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T03:50:08.393095928Z'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-qg36-9jxh-fj25'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/django-ses/django-ses/security/advisories/GHSA-qg36-9jxh-fj25
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33185'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/django-ses/django-ses/commit/b71b5f413293a13997b6e6314086cb9c22629795
  - url: 'https://github.com/django-ses/django-ses'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/django-ses/django-ses/blob/3d627067935876487f9938310d5e1fbb249a7778/CVE/001-cert-url-signature-verification.md
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/django-ses/PYSEC-2023-82.yaml
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00233
epssPercentile: 0.1267
ingestedAt: '2026-09-12T03:13:01.721Z'
---

## Overview

The django_ses library implements a mail backend for Django using AWS Simple Email Service. The library exports the `SESEventWebhookView class` intended to receive signed requests from AWS to handle email bounces, subscriptions, etc. These requests are signed by AWS and are verified by django_ses, however the verification of this signature was found to be flawed as it allowed users to specify arbitrary public certificates.

## Affected packages

- `django-ses < 3.5.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `django-ses 3.5.0`