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🐍 PyPI

GHSA-wqc8-x2pr-7jqh

HIGH

RestrictedPython vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via stack frame sandbox escape

Also known asCVE-2023-37271PYSEC-2023-118
Published
Jul 10, 2023
Updated
Feb 16, 2024
Affected
3 pkgs
Patched
3 / 3
Exploits
None indexed

EPSS Exploitation Probability

via FIRST.org ↗
0.8%probability of exploitation in next 30 days
Lower Risk51th percentile+0.42%
0.00%0.42%0.85%1.27%0.2%0.8%Dec 25Apr 26Jun 26

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.

Blast Radius

3 pkgs affected
🐍restrictedpython🐍restrictedpython🐍restrictedpython

Real-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

Impact

RestrictedPython does not check access to stack frames and their attributes. Stack frames are accessible within at least generators and generator expressions, which are allowed inside RestrictedPython. An attacker with access to a RestrictedPython environment can write code that gets the current stack frame in a generator and then walk the stack all the way beyond the RestrictedPython invocation boundary, thus breaking out of the restricted scope allowing the call of unrestricted Python code and therefore potentially allowing arbitrary code execution in the Python interpreter.

All RestrictedPython deployments that allow untrusted users to write Python code in the RestrictedPython environment are at risk. In terms of Zope and Plone, this would mean deployments where the administrator allows untrusted users to create and/or edit objects of type Script (Python), DTML Method, DTML Document or Zope Page Template. This is a non-default configuration and likely to be extremely rare.

Patches

The problem has been fixed in releases 5.3 and 6.1.

Workarounds

There is no workaround available. If you cannot upgrade to the latest release you should ensure the RestrictedPython environment is only available for trusted users.

References

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

Credits

Thanks for analysing and reporting the go to:

  • Nakul Choudhary (Quasar0147 on GitHub)
  • despawningbone on GitHub
  • Robert Xiao (nneonneo on GitHub)

Affected Packages

3 total 3 fixed
EcosystemPackageVulnerable rangeFix
🐍PyPIrestrictedpythonall versions5.3
🐍PyPIrestrictedpython6.0a1.dev0&&< 6.16.1
🐍PyPIrestrictedpythonall versions5.3

Detection & mitigation playbook

Open-source dependency
  1. Detect

    Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for restrictedpython. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.

  2. Fix

    Update restrictedpython to 5.3 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-wqc8-x2pr-7jqh is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

  3. 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.

  4. How O3 protects you

    O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-wqc8-x2pr-7jqh is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.

Tailored to GHSA-wqc8-x2pr-7jqh. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.

Frequently Asked Questions

### Impact RestrictedPython does not check access to stack frames and their attributes. Stack frames are accessible within at least generators and generator expressions, which are allowed inside RestrictedPython. An attacker with access to a RestrictedPython environment can write code that gets the current stack frame in a generator and then walk the stack all the way beyond the RestrictedPython invocation boundary, thus breaking out of the restricted scope allowing the call of unrestricted Python code and therefore potentially allowing arbitrary code execution in the Python interpreter. All
O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

Is GHSA-wqc8-x2pr-7jqh in your dependencies?

O3 detects GHSA-wqc8-x2pr-7jqh across PyPI dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.