CVE-2018-1060 — Improper Input Validation in [UNKNOWN] Python
python before versions 2.7.15, 3.4.9, 3.5.6rc1, 3.6.5rc1 and 3.7.0 is vulnerable to catastrophic backtracking in pop3lib's apop() method. An attacker could use this flaw to cause denial of service.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 5% (30-day exploitation probability)+14
- Technical severity (high)+6
- Automatable exploitation (SSVC)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations ([UNKNOWN] Python, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux…).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- EPSS ahead of 92% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (input validation), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [UNKNOWN] | Python | version python 3.7.0version python 3.5.6version python 3.4.9version python 2.7.15 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Canonical | Ubuntu Linux | version 12.04version 14.04version 16.04version 18.04 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Debian | Debian Linux | version 8.0version 9.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Fedoraproject | Fedora | version 29version 30version 28 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Python | Python | ≥ 2.7.0 and < 2.7.15≥ 3.0.0 and < 3.4.9≥ 3.5.0 and < 3.5.6> 3.6.0 and < 3.6.5 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Ansible Tower | version 3.3 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux Desktop | version 7.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux Server | version 7.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux Workstation | version 7.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 3.9 | 3.6 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 4.3 | CVSS 3.0 | Medium | 2.8 | 1.4 | secalert@redhat.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 4.3 | CVSS 3.0 | Medium | — | — | redhat via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 5.0 | CVSS 2.0 | Medium | 10.0 | 2.9 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 5.04%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · [unknown]/python
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 7.5
- Source status changed · → Modified
- Record created in this database
- 2018
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
22 on the record
- docs.python.org/3.6/whatsnew/changelog.html
- docs.python.org/3.5/whatsnew/changelog.html
- bugs.python.org/issue32981
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JSKP
- usn.ubuntu.com/3817-2/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AEZ5
- support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3725
- www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4306
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3505
- www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2020.html
- usn.ubuntu.com/3817-1/
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1260
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/09/msg00031.html
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3041
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0327
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1042001
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00040.html
- www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4307
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/46PV
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/09/msg00030.html
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-12996 A use-after-free in OpenVPN 2.6.0 through 2.6.20 and 2.7_alpha1 through 2.7.4 allows remote... Jul 30, 2026
- High CVE-2026-15308 Incremental HTMLParser feed() allows CPU-exhaustion DoS via repeated unterminated markup declarations Jul 9, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-14355 ext/openssl: Memory corruption in openssl_encrypt with AES-WRAP-PAD Jul 3, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-4360 Tarfile.extract() doesn't fully respect filter parameter Jun 30, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-0864 Configuration Injection via Carriage Return (\r) in write() method Jun 23, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-56968 Use of Uninitialized Resource in Gnu Sasl Jun 23, 2026
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 fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- 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 record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2018-1060 is "Improper Input Validation in [UNKNOWN] Python", rated High. It affects Python ([UNKNOWN]); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 7.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 5.04% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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