CVE-2026-15310
CVE-2026-15310 — zipfile: bzip2/LZMA/Zstandard members decompress without a max_length bound, defeating chunked-read memory limits
When decompressing crafted zip files using the bzip/LZMA/Zstandard compressions, Python could use an attacker-controlled size to pre-allocate memory, possibly resulting in memory exhaustion.
Published Updated Sources: NVD, Python Software Foundation (CNA), GitHub, GitHub Security Advisory, SOCRadar CTI
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the scoring sources call it.
Exploitation
Exploit code
public exploit, none observed
EPSS
0%
ahead of 0% of scored CVEs
CVSS base
2.1
low
Remediation
The vendor's own words where we have them.
Upgrade CPython to a fixed release. Apply vendor patches per advisory and restrict external exposure of the affected component until patched.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record's own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found.
- Identify exposed assets running affected vendor/product/version combinations.
- Prioritize based on EPSS, PoC availability, and external exposure.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors, authentication anomalies, or suspicious child processes matching the vulnerability class.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and version as the advisories word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python Software Foundation | CPython | 0 to < 3.16.0 | Vulnerable |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Vector
Network
Privileges Req
None
User Interaction
A
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | CVSS 4.0 | low | — | — | Python Software Foundation (CNA) |
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
What this weakness leads to
MITRE's own consequences and mitigations for the weakness class — the authority's wording, not guidance derived from the CVSS vector.
CWE-400 · Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
- DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
- DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
- DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory)
- DoS: Resource Consumption (Other)
Mitigation: Design throttling mechanisms into the system architecture. The best protection is to limit the amount of resources that an unauthorized user can cause to be expended. A strong authentication and access control model will help prevent such attacks from occurring in the first place. The login application should be protected against DoS attacks as much as possible. Limiting the database access, perhaps by caching result sets, can help minimize the resources expended. To further limit the potential for a DoS attack, consider tracking the rate of requests received from users and blocking requests that exceed a defined rate threshold.
Weakness & attack patterns
- CWE-400Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
Attack patterns reported against this CVE. The ATT&CK techniques below are inferred from its weakness class.
- T1499Endpoint Denial of Service
Public exploit
Capability, not use: code existing is a different claim from anyone running it.
Repositories
4
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not rules we have tested.
- Search application, proxy, and WAF logs for requests touching /LZMA/Zstandard.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for network-reachable CPython.
- Monitor for scanner or exploit-pattern traffic after 4 public PoC repositories were reported.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first — with the readings a source repeats on a schedule counted underneath rather than listed.
- 2026
Added · CVSS 3.1 2.1 (AV:N)
Aug 25, 2026 · NVD
Initial · CVE published
Aug 25, 2026 · NVD
Added · GHSA-xj79-6hh5-9w6q published (low)
Aug 25, 2026 · GitHub Security Advisory
References
5 on the record
- github.com/python/cpython/issues/156002
Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- github.com/python/cpython/pull/156003
Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- mail.python.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/YUHXURX2WZGKGNA4ANYBQS2VZRYQ5JNK/
Vendor Advisory
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-15310
NVD
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-xj79-6hh5-9w6q
Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Elsewhere on this site
- Python Software Foundationevery CVE for this vendor
- Denial of Servicesame class
- CWE-400other pages naming this weakness
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record1
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-15310 is zipfile: bzip2/LZMA/Zstandard members decompress without a max_length bound, defeating chunked-read memory limits, a low vulnerability affecting CPython from Python Software Foundation. The current evidence does not list it in CISA KEV, and the exploit status is: Active exploitation is not confirmed from current sources for CVE-2026-15310. Public exploit evidence is: 4 public PoC repositories reported; 0 marked weaponized in current dataset. The affected-version evidence is listed in the key facts and affected products tables. Defenders should first verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run those versions, then apply vendor patches or mitigations, restrict reachable attack surface, and preserve logs for detection review. CVSS 2.1 describes technical severity, while EPSS 0% helps estimate near-term exploit likelihood; neither replaces asset context. Unknown fields should remain explicit in tickets, and threat actor, IOC, victimology, or payload claims should not be added unless a cited source supports them. Monitor CISA KEV, vendor advisories, NVD changes, public PoC repositories, and internal telemetry for update triggers.