CVE-2020-8315

Local code execution via unsafe startup DLL loading

Published Jan 28, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

DLL search-path hijacking in affected CPython releases allows local users to execute code when Python starts on Windows 7. At startup, PC/getpathp.c calls LoadLibraryW for api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll without LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH flags, allowing Windows 7 to resolve an attacker-planted DLL instead of the system copy. Exploitation requires local ability to place the named DLL in a searched location and a user to launch CPython 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.6, or 3.8 through 3.8.1; Windows 8 and later are unaffected.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.48%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL search-path hijacking in affected CPython releases allows local users to execute code when Python starts on Windows 7. At startup, PC/getpathp.c calls LoadLibraryW for api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll without LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH flags, allowing Windows 7 to resolve an attacker-planted DLL instead of the system copy. Exploitation requires local ability to place the named DLL in a searched location and a user to launch CPython 3.6 through 3.6.10, 3.7 through 3.7.6, or 3.8 through 3.8.1; Windows 8 and later are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8315
Published
Jan 28, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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