Build corruption when using `PYO3_CONFIG_FILE` environment variableGHSA-vxcf-c7mx-pg53
GHSA-vxcf-c7mx-pg53 is a security vulnerability in pyo3. A fix is available for pyo3 — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Real-World Exposure
pyo3Real-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects crates.io packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
In PyO3 0.23.0 the PYO3_CONFIG_FILE environment variable used to configure builds regressed such that changing the environment variable would no longer trigger PyO3 to reconfigure and recompile. In combination with workflows using tools such as maturin to build for multiple versions in a single build, this leads to Python wheels being compiled against the wrong Python API version.
All users who distribute artefacts for multiple Python versions are encouraged to update and rebuild with PyO3 0.23.3. Affected wheels produced from PyO3 0.23.0 through 0.23.2 are highly unstable and will crash the Python interpreter in unpredictable ways.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🦀crates.io | pyo3 | ≥ 0.23.0&&< 0.23.3 | 0.23.3cargo update -p pyo3 --precise 0.23.3 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for pyo3, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update pyo3 to 0.23.3 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-vxcf-c7mx-pg53 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
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-vxcf-c7mx-pg53 in your dependencies?
Find it across crates.io, including transitive dependencies.