The documentation XML-RPC server in Python through 2.7.16, 3.x through 3.6.9, and 3.7.x through 3.7.4 has XSS via the server_title field.
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 25/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 4.6% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 91.7% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. A user must open a link or visit a page. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: python3 (Alpine:v3.10) 3.7.5-r0; python2 (Alpine:v3.11) 2.7.16-r3; python3 (Alpine:v3.7) 3.6.9-r1.
- Mentioned 3 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Low priority for now. Upgrade to python3 (Alpine:v3.10) 3.7.5-r0; python2 (Alpine:v3.11) 2.7.16-r3; python3 (Alpine:v3.7) 3.6.9-r1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
The documentation XML-RPC server in Python through 2.7.16, 3.x through 3.6.9, and 3.7.x through 3.7.4 has XSS via the server_title field. This occurs in Lib/DocXMLRPCServer.py in Python 2.x, and in Lib/xmlrpc/server.py in Python 3.x. If set_server_title is called with untrusted input, arbitrary JavaScript can be delivered to clients that visit the http URL for this server.
- BDU:2020-04508
- DLA-2280-1
- DLA-2628-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:2389-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:2393-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:2438-1
- openSUSE-SU-2019:2453-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2332-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2333-1
- RHSA-2020:1605
- RHSA-2020:3888
- RHSA-2020:3911
- RHSA-2020:4285
- RHSA-2020:4433
- RLSA-2020:1605
- SUSE-SU-2019:2743-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:2748-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:2748-2
- SUSE-SU-2019:2802-1
- SUSE-SU-2020:2699-1
- Published
- Sep 28, 2019
- Updated
- Oct 7, 2026
- EPSS
- 4.6% · 91th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-79
Report tools
Action score
25
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 24 / 40 · 6.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 4.6%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 6.1
- CNA · mitre
- 6.1
- agree
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Running WordPress? Scan your site free with WP Lens
Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| python | python | cpe:2.3:a:python:python |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
Limit the impact of XSS
This is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. A well-configured Content-Security-Policy doesn't fix it, but greatly reduces its impact. Check your site's CSP and other security headers for free.
Check security headersAffected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- canonical ubuntu linux12.04
- canonical ubuntu linux14.04
- canonical ubuntu linux16.04
- canonical ubuntu linux18.04
- canonical ubuntu linux19.04
- debian debian linux9.0
- python python3.7.0 and later · before 3.7.5
- python python3.6.0 and later · before 3.6.10
- python python3.0.0 and later · before 3.5.8
- python python2.7.0 and later · before 2.7.17
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine:v3.10 | python3 | before 3.7.5-r0 | 3.7.5-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.11 | python2 | before 2.7.16-r3 | 2.7.16-r3 |
| Alpine:v3.7 | python3 | before 3.6.9-r1 | 3.6.9-r1 |
| Alpine:v3.9 | python3 | before 3.6.9-r2 | 3.6.9-r2 |
| Debian:12 | jython | before 2.7.2+repack1-5 | 2.7.2+repack1-5 |
| Debian:9 | python2.7 | before 2.7.13-2+deb9u5 | 2.7.13-2+deb9u5 |
| Debian:9 | python3.5 | before 3.5.3-1+deb9u2 | 3.5.3-1+deb9u2 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | python | before 2.7.14-lp150.6.21.1 | 2.7.14-lp150.6.21.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | python3 | before 3.6.9-lp150.2.14.1 | 3.6.9-lp150.2.14.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | python3-base | before 3.6.9-lp150.2.14.1 | 3.6.9-lp150.2.14.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python | before 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.1 | 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python-base | before 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.2 | 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.2 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python-doc | before 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.1 | 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python3 | before 3.6.9-lp151.6.4.1 | 3.6.9-lp151.6.4.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python3 | before 3.6.12-lp151.6.32.1 | 3.6.12-lp151.6.32.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python3-base | before 3.6.9-lp151.6.4.1 | 3.6.9-lp151.6.4.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python3-core | before 3.6.12-lp151.6.32.1 | 3.6.12-lp151.6.32.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | python3-documentation | before 3.6.12-lp151.6.32.1 | 3.6.12-lp151.6.32.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | python3 | before 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 | 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | python3-core | before 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 | 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | python3-documentation | before 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 | 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | python | before 0:2.7.5-89.el7 | 0:2.7.5-89.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | python-debug | before 0:2.7.5-89.el7 | 0:2.7.5-89.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | python-debuginfo | before 0:2.7.5-89.el7 | 0:2.7.5-89.el7 |
+96
Same product
python: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2016-5636Integer overflow in the get_data function in zipimport.c in CPython (aka Python) before 2.7.12, 3.x before 3.4.5, and 3.5.x before 3.5.2 all47Plan
- CVE-2007-4559Directory traversal vulnerability in the (1) extract and (2) extractall functions in the tarfile module in Python allows user-assisted remot47Plan
- CVE-2021-3177Python 3.x through 3.9.1 has a buffer overflow in PyCArg_repr in _ctypes/callproc.c, which may lead to remote code execution in certain Pyth46Plan
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2018-20852Jul 13, 2019 · http.cookiejar.DefaultPolicy.domain_return_ok in Lib/http/cookiejar.py in Python before 3.7.3 does not correctly validate the domain: it can18Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2019-16056Sep 6, 2019 · An issue was discovered in Python through 2.7.16, 3.x through 3.5.7, 3.6.x through 3.6.9, and 3.7.x through 3.7.4.32Monitor
- Later →CVE-2019-17514Oct 12, 2019 · library/glob.html in the Python 2 and 3 documentation before 2016 has potentially misleading information about whether sorting occurs, as de31Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| alpine:python2 | 2.7.16-r3 · Alpine:v3.11 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:python3 | 3.7.5-r0 · Alpine:v3.10 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:jython | 2.7.2+repack1-5 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:python2.7 | 2.7.13-2+deb9u5 · Debian:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:python3.5 | 3.5.3-1+deb9u2 · Debian:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python | 2.7.14-lp150.6.21.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python-base | 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.2 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python-doc | 2.7.14-lp151.10.10.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python3 | 3.6.9-lp151.6.4.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python3-base | 3.6.9-lp151.6.4.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python3-core | 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:python3-documentation | 3.6.12-lp152.4.14.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:babel | 0:2.5.1-9.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:Cython | 0:0.28.1-7.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:Cython-debugsource | 0:0.28.1-7.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:numpy | 1:1.14.2-13.module+el8.1.0+3323+7ac3e00f · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:numpy-debugsource | 1:1.14.2-13.module+el8.1.0+3323+7ac3e00f · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:pytest | 0:3.4.2-13.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:python-attrs | 0:17.4.0-10.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:python-backports | 0:1.0-15.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:python-backports-ssl_match_hostname | 0:3.5.0.1-11.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:python-PyMySQL | 0:0.8.0-10.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:PyYAML | 0:3.12-16.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:PyYAML-debugsource | 0:3.12-16.module+el8.1.0+3111+de3f2d8e · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:babel | 0:2.5.1-9.module+el8.4.0+403+9ae17a31 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:Cython | 0:0.28.1-7.module+el8.5.0+706+735ec4b3 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:pytest | 0:3.4.2-13.module+el8.5.0+706+735ec4b3 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:python-attrs | 0:17.4.0-10.module+el8.5.0+706+735ec4b3 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:python-chardet | 0:3.0.4-10.module+el8.5.0+706+735ec4b3 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:python-coverage | 0:4.5.1-4.module+el8.5.0+706+735ec4b3 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
+12
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-20-814 · Sep 30, 2020(Python için Güvenlik Güncellemeleri Yayınladı)
- TR-20-773 · Sep 22, 2020(Python için Güvenlik Güncellemeleri Yayınladı)
- TR-20-535 · Jul 16, 2020(Python için Güvenlik Güncellemeleri Yayınladı)
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- low · data can be read
- Integrity
- low · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- none
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- Low
- Integrity impact
- Low
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-79 · Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
nvd-primary
Root cause
User content is inserted into the page as HTML. The browser interprets the content as code rather than data.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-79 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
commentEl.innerHTML = comment.body;Fixed
commentEl.textContent = comment.body;Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- SSVC exploitation— → none
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (19 more)Show less
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00063.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00012.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00021.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00040.html
- github.com/python/cpython/blob/35c0809158be7feae4c4f877a08b93baea2d8291/Lib/xmlrpc/server.py#L897
- github.com/python/cpython/blob/e007860b8b3609ce0bc62b1780efaa06241520bd/Lib/DocXMLRPCServer.py#L213
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/07/msg00011.html
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/04/msg00015.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/4X3HW5JRZ7GCPSR7UHJOLD7AWLTQCDVR/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BEARDOTXCYPYELKBD2KWZ27GSPXDI3GQ/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/COATURTCY7G67AYI6UDV5B2JZTBCKIDX/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JCPGLTTOBB3QEARDX4JOYURP6ELNNA2V/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/K7HNVIFMETMFWWWUNTB72KYJYXCZOS5V/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/M34WOYCDKTDE5KLUACE2YIEH7D37KHRX/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OYGESQSGIHDCIGOBVF7VXCMIE6YDWRYB/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZBTGPBUABGXZ7WH7677OEM3NSP6ZEA76/
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20191017-0004/
- usn.ubuntu.com/4151-1/
- usn.ubuntu.com/4151-2/
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.