CVE-2025-4516 (GCVE-0-2025-4516)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2025-05-15 13:29 – Updated: 2026-07-31 14:02
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
Use-after-free in "unicode_escape" decoder with error handler
Summary
There is an issue in CPython when using `bytes.decode("unicode_escape", error="ignore|replace")`. If you are not using the "unicode_escape" encoding or an error handler your usage is not affected. To work-around this issue you may stop using the error= handler and instead wrap the bytes.decode() call in a try-except catching the DecodeError.
Severity
SSVC
Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2025-05-15 14:18 UTC
CWE
- CWE-416 - Use After Free
Assigner
References
12 references
Impacted products
1 product
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python Software Foundation | CPython |
Affected:
0 , < 3.9.23
(python)
Affected: 3.10.0 , < 3.10.18 (python) Affected: 3.11.0 , < 3.11.13 (python) Affected: 3.12.0 , < 3.12.11 (python) Affected: 3.13.0 , < 3.13.4 (python) Affected: 3.14.0a1 , < 3.14.0b2 (python) |
guessed |
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2025-4516",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2025-05-15T14:18:44.612125Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2025-05-15T14:18:50.599Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
},
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2025-05-19T10:03:31.542Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/16/4"
},
{
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/19/1"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "CPython",
"repo": "https://github.com/python/cpython",
"vendor": "Python Software Foundation",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "3.9.23",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.10.18",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.10.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.11.13",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.11.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.12.11",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.12.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.13.4",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.13.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.14.0b2",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.14.0a1",
"versionType": "python"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "There is an issue in CPython when using `bytes.decode(\"unicode_escape\", error=\"ignore|replace\")`. If you are not using the \"unicode_escape\" encoding or an error handler your usage is not affected. To work-around this issue you may stop using the error= handler and instead wrap the bytes.decode() call in a try-except catching the DecodeError."
}
],
"value": "There is an issue in CPython when using `bytes.decode(\"unicode_escape\", error=\"ignore|replace\")`. If you are not using the \"unicode_escape\" encoding or an error handler your usage is not affected. To work-around this issue you may stop using the error= handler and instead wrap the bytes.decode() call in a try-except catching the DecodeError."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "HIGH",
"attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"baseScore": 5.9,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-416",
"description": "CWE-416 Use After Free",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-31T14:02:21.178Z",
"orgId": "28c92f92-d60d-412d-b760-e73465c3df22",
"shortName": "PSF"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"issue-tracking"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/133767"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/129648"
},
{
"tags": [
"vendor-advisory"
],
"url": "https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/L75IPBBTSCYEF56I2M4KIW353BB3AY74/"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/69b4387f78f413e8c47572a85b3478c47eba8142"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/9f69a58623bd01349a18ba0c7a9cb1dad6a51e8e"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/4398b788ffc1f954a2c552da285477d42a571292"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/6279eb8c076d89d3739a6edb393e43c7929b429d"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/73b3040f592436385007918887b7e2132aa8431f"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/8d35fd1b34935221aff23a1ab69a429dd156be77"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/ab9893c40609935e0d40a6d2a7307ea51aec598b"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "UNKNOWN"
},
"title": "Use-after-free in \"unicode_escape\" decoder with error handler",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 0.2.0"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "28c92f92-d60d-412d-b760-e73465c3df22",
"assignerShortName": "PSF",
"cveId": "CVE-2025-4516",
"datePublished": "2025-05-15T13:29:20.126Z",
"dateReserved": "2025-05-09T14:59:53.878Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-31T14:02:21.178Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2025-4516",
"date": "2026-09-18",
"epss": "0.00216",
"percentile": "0.12343"
},
"microsoft_vex": {
"current_release_date": "2026-02-21T02:51:37.000Z",
"cve": "CVE-2025-4516",
"id": "msrc_CVE-2025-4516",
"initial_release_date": "2025-05-02T00:00:00.000Z",
"product_status:fixed": "3",
"product_status:known_affected": "3",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "1",
"source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "Use-after-free in \"unicode_escape\" decoder with error handler",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2025/msrc_cve-2025-4516.json",
"version": "3"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "CPython",
"repo": "https://github.com/python/cpython",
"vendor": "Python Software Foundation",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "3.9.23",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.10.18",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.10.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.11.13",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.11.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.12.11",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.12.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.13.4",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.13.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.14.0b2",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.14.0a1",
"versionType": "python"
}
]
}
],
"source": "cna@python.org"
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "There is an issue in CPython when using `bytes.decode(\"unicode_escape\", error=\"ignore|replace\")`. If you are not using the \"unicode_escape\" encoding or an error handler your usage is not affected. To work-around this issue you may stop using the error= handler and instead wrap the bytes.decode() call in a try-except catching the DecodeError."
},
{
"lang": "es",
"value": "Hay un problema en CPython al usar `bytes.decode(\"unicode_escape\", error=\"ignore|replace\")`. Si no usa la codificaci\u00f3n \"unicode_escape\" ni un controlador de errores, su uso no se ve afectado. Para solucionar este problema, puede dejar de usar el controlador `error=` y, en su lugar, encapsular la llamada `bytes.decode()` en un `try-except` que capture el `DecodeError`."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2025-4516",
"lastModified": "2026-07-31T14:16:44.797",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV40": [
{
"cvssData": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "HIGH",
"attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"baseScore": 5.9,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"source": "cna@python.org",
"type": "Secondary"
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"id": "CVE-2025-4516",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "none"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2025-05-15T14:18:44.612125Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"published": "2025-05-15T14:15:31.753",
"references": [
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/4398b788ffc1f954a2c552da285477d42a571292"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/6279eb8c076d89d3739a6edb393e43c7929b429d"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/69b4387f78f413e8c47572a85b3478c47eba8142"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/73b3040f592436385007918887b7e2132aa8431f"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/8d35fd1b34935221aff23a1ab69a429dd156be77"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/9f69a58623bd01349a18ba0c7a9cb1dad6a51e8e"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/ab9893c40609935e0d40a6d2a7307ea51aec598b"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/133767"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/129648"
},
{
"source": "cna@python.org",
"url": "https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/L75IPBBTSCYEF56I2M4KIW353BB3AY74/"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/16/4"
},
{
"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/19/1"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "cna@python.org",
"vulnStatus": "Deferred",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-416"
}
],
"source": "cna@python.org",
"type": "Secondary"
}
]
}
},
"redhat_vex": {
"aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
"current_release_date": "2026-06-30T10:28:24+00:00",
"cve": "CVE-2025-4516",
"id": "CVE-2025-4516",
"initial_release_date": "2025-05-15T13:29:20.126000+00:00",
"product_status:fixed": "229",
"product_status:known_affected": "130",
"source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "cpython: python: CPython DecodeError Handling Vulnerability",
"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2025/cve-2025-4516.json",
"version": "3"
},
"vulnrichment": {
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2025-05-19T10:03:31.542Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/16/4"
},
{
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/19/1"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
},
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2025-4516",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2025-05-15T14:18:44.612125Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2025-05-15T14:18:48.076Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"product": "CPython",
"repo": "https://github.com/python/cpython",
"vendor": "Python Software Foundation",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "3.9.23",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.10.18",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.10.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.11.13",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.11.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.12.11",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.12.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.13.4",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.13.0",
"versionType": "python"
},
{
"lessThan": "3.14.0b2",
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.14.0a1",
"versionType": "python"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "There is an issue in CPython when using `bytes.decode(\"unicode_escape\", error=\"ignore|replace\")`. If you are not using the \"unicode_escape\" encoding or an error handler your usage is not affected. To work-around this issue you may stop using the error= handler and instead wrap the bytes.decode() call in a try-except catching the DecodeError."
}
],
"value": "There is an issue in CPython when using `bytes.decode(\"unicode_escape\", error=\"ignore|replace\")`. If you are not using the \"unicode_escape\" encoding or an error handler your usage is not affected. To work-around this issue you may stop using the error= handler and instead wrap the bytes.decode() call in a try-except catching the DecodeError."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "HIGH",
"attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"baseScore": 5.9,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-416",
"description": "CWE-416 Use After Free",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-31T14:02:21.178Z",
"orgId": "28c92f92-d60d-412d-b760-e73465c3df22",
"shortName": "PSF"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"issue-tracking"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/133767"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/129648"
},
{
"tags": [
"vendor-advisory"
],
"url": "https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/L75IPBBTSCYEF56I2M4KIW353BB3AY74/"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/69b4387f78f413e8c47572a85b3478c47eba8142"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/9f69a58623bd01349a18ba0c7a9cb1dad6a51e8e"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/4398b788ffc1f954a2c552da285477d42a571292"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/6279eb8c076d89d3739a6edb393e43c7929b429d"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/73b3040f592436385007918887b7e2132aa8431f"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/8d35fd1b34935221aff23a1ab69a429dd156be77"
},
{
"tags": [
"patch"
],
"url": "https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/ab9893c40609935e0d40a6d2a7307ea51aec598b"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "UNKNOWN"
},
"title": "Use-after-free in \"unicode_escape\" decoder with error handler",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 0.2.0"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "28c92f92-d60d-412d-b760-e73465c3df22",
"assignerShortName": "PSF",
"cveId": "CVE-2025-4516",
"datePublished": "2025-05-15T13:29:20.126Z",
"dateReserved": "2025-05-09T14:59:53.878Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-07-31T14:02:21.178Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.
Loading…