CVE-2019-16784
mediumpriority · track · 41EPSS 0.007 · 53 %ileexploit · PoCEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-26
In PyInstaller before version 3.6, only on Windows, a local privilege escalation vulnerability is present in this particular case: If a software using PyInstaller in "onefile" mode is launched by a privileged user (at least more than the current one) which have his "TempPath" resolving to a world writable directory. This is the case for example if the software is launched as a service or as a scheduled task using a system account (TempPath will be C:\Windows\Temp). In order to be exploitable the software has to be (re)started after the attacker launch the exploit program, so for a service launched at startup, a service restart is needed (e.g. after a crash or an upgrade).
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 4.4–7.8
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
exploits (2)
Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.
affected products (3)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (2)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- GHSA-7fcj-pq9j-wh2rLocal Privilege Escalation in PyInstaller2020-01-16ghsa · osvUS
### Impact Local Privilege Escalation in all Windows software frozen by PyInstaller in "onefile" mode. The vulnerability is present only on Windows and in this particular case: If a **software frozen by PyInstaller in "onefile" mode** is launched by a (privileged) user who has **his/her "TempPath" resolving to a world writable directory**. This is the case e.g. if the software is launched as a service or as a scheduled task using a system account (in which case TempPath will default to C:\Windows\Temp). In order to be exploitable the software has to be (re)started after the attacker has launched the exploit program. So for a service launched at startup, a service restart is needed (e.g. after a crash or an upgrade). While PyInstaller itself was not vulnerable, all Windows software frozen by PyInstaller in "onefile" mode is vulnerable. CVSSv3 score 7.0 (High) CVSSv3 vector CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Affected - all Windows software frozen by PyInstaller in "onefile" mode No affected - PyInstaller itself (except if frozen by PyInstaller in "onefile" mode on Windows) - software frozen in "one*dir*" mode - other platforms (GNU/Linux, OS X, BSD, etc.) ### Patches The problem is patched in commits 42a67148b3bdf9211fda8499fdc5b63acdd7e6cc (fixed code) and be948cf0954707671aa499da17b10c86b6fa5e5c (recompiled bootloaders). Users should upgrade to PyInstaller version 3.6 and rebuild their software. ### Workarounds There is no known workaround. Users using PyInstaller to freeze their Windows software using "onefile" mode should upgrade PyInstaller and rebuild their software. ### Credits This vulnerability was discovered and reported by Farid AYOUJIL (@faridtsl), David HA, Florent LE NIGER and Yann GASCUEL (@lnv42) from Alter Solutions (@AlterSolutions) and fixed in collaboration with Hartmut Goebel (@htgoebel, maintainer of PyInstaller). ### Funding Development PyInstaller is in urgent need of funding to make future security fixes happen, see <https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller/issues/4404> for details.
- PYSEC-2020-1752020-01-14vendor · osvUS
In PyInstaller before version 3.6, only on Windows, a local privilege escalation vulnerability is present in this particular case: If a software using PyInstaller in "onefile" mode is launched by a privileged user (at least more than the current one) which have his "TempPath" resolving to a world writable directory. This is the case for example if the software is launched as a service or as a scheduled task using a system account (TempPath will be C:\Windows\Temp). In order to be exploitable the software has to be (re)started after the attacker launch the exploit program, so for a service launched at startup, a service restart is needed (e.g. after a crash or an upgrade).
also known as (6)
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sources
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references (4)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller/security/advisories/GHSA-7fcj-pq9j-wh2rcnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16784cnnvd
- https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller/security/advisories/GHSA-7fcj-pq9j-wh2renisa_euvd
- https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller/security/advisories/GHSA-7fcj-pq9j-wh2rPatchThird Party Advisorynvd
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