rpc.py vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted DataGHSA-8rq8-f485-7v8x
CRITICALFix: abersheeran/rpc.py@491e7a8GHSA-8rq8-f485-7v8x is a critical-severity (CVSS 9.8) CWE-522 vulnerability in rpc-py. 5 public exploit or proof-of-concept references are indexed, so weaponization risk is real. The records list no fixed version yet; check the vendor advisory below and apply the mitigations in the meantime.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
Where this sits among everything scored
Real-World Exposure
rpc-pyReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects PyPI packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
rpc.py through 0.6.0 allows Remote Code Execution because an unpickle occurs when the "serializer: pickle" HTTP header is sent. In other words, although JSON (not Pickle) is the default data format, an unauthenticated client can cause the data to be processed with unpickle.
Per the maintainer, rpc.py is not designed for an API that is open to the outside world, and external requests cannot reach rpc.py in real world use.
A fix exists on the master branch. As a workaround, use the following code to turn off pickle in older versions:
del SERIALIZER_NAMES[PickleSerializer.name]
del SERIALIZER_TYPES[PickleSerializer.content_type]
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | rpc-py | ≥ 0.4.2 | No fix |
Affected Products
rpc.pyrpc.py_projectResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
rpc.py 0.6.0 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
by Elias Hohl · Jul 29, 2022
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for rpc-py, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Remediation status
The records we use list no patched version of rpc-py for GHSA-8rq8-f485-7v8x. Check the maintainer's advisory, and where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range.
Mitigate without a patch
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-8rq8-f485-7v8x in your dependencies?
Find it across PyPI, including transitive dependencies.