UAF in CPython lzma/BZ2/gzip Decompressors before v3.15.0
CVE-2026-6100 Published on April 13, 2026

Use-after-free in lzma.LZMADecompressor, bz2.BZ2Decompressor, and gzip.GzipFile after re-use under memory pressure
Use-after-free (UAF) was possible in the `lzma.LZMADecompressor`, `bz2.BZ2Decompressor`, and `gzip.GzipFile` when a memory allocation fails with a `MemoryError` and the decompression instance is re-used. This scenario can be triggered if the process is under memory pressure. The fix cleans up the dangling pointer in this specific error condition. The vulnerability is only present if the program re-uses decompressor instances across multiple decompression calls even after a `MemoryError` is raised during decompression. Using the helper functions to one-shot decompress data such as `lzma.decompress()`, `bz2.decompress()`, `gzip.decompress()`, and `zlib.decompress()` are not affected as a new decompressor instance is used per call. If the decompressor instance is not re-used after an error condition, this usage is similarly not vulnerable.

Vendor Advisory NVD

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-6100 is exploitable with network access, and does not require authorization privileges or user interaction. This vulnerability is consided to have a high level of attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.

Attack Vector:
NETWORK
Attack Complexity:
HIGH
Privileges Required:
NONE
User Interaction:
NONE
Scope:
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact:
HIGH
Integrity Impact:
HIGH
Availability Impact:
HIGH

Weakness Types

What is a Dangling pointer Vulnerability?

Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code.

CVE-2026-6100 has been classified to as a Dangling pointer vulnerability or weakness.

What is a Memory Corruption Vulnerability?

The software writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Typically, this can result in corruption of data, a crash, or code execution. The software may modify an index or perform pointer arithmetic that references a memory location that is outside of the boundaries of the buffer. A subsequent write operation then produces undefined or unexpected results.

CVE-2026-6100 has been classified to as a Memory Corruption vulnerability or weakness.

What is a Dangling pointer Vulnerability?

The program dereferences a pointer that contains a location for memory that was previously valid, but is no longer valid. When a program releases memory, but it maintains a pointer to that memory, then the memory might be re-allocated at a later time. If the original pointer is accessed to read or write data, then this could cause the program to read or modify data that is in use by a different function or process. Depending on how the newly-allocated memory is used, this could lead to a denial of service, information exposure, or code execution.

CVE-2026-6100 has been classified to as a Dangling pointer vulnerability or weakness.


Products Associated with CVE-2026-6100

You can be notified by email with stack.watch whenever vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-6100 are published in these products:

Cpython
 
Red Hat Rhosemc
 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Eus
 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
 
Red Hat Rhel Aus
 
Red Hat Rhel Eus Long Life
 
Red Hat Rhel E4s
 
Red Hat Rhel Tus
 
Red Hat Rhel Eus
 
Red Hat Ai Inference Server
 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Ai
 
Red Hat Hummingbird
 
Red Hat Rhui
 
Canonical Ubuntu Linux
 

Affected Versions

Python Software Foundation CPython: Red Hat Middleware Containers for OpenShift: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.8): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.8): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.4): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.0): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.4): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9): Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0): Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10): Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8): Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.4): Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6): Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9): Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2: Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.3: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.3: Red Hat Hardened Images: Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8:

Exploit Probability

EPSS
0.52%
Percentile
39.81%

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.