CVE-2022-42919
python: local privilege escalation via the multiprocessing forkserver start method
Severity
ImportantRed Hat Product Security
CVSS 3.1
Review impact separately from score.
Published · October 26, 2022
Updated · October 22, 2026
Description
A vulnerability found in Python. The flaw occurs when used with the forkserver start method on Linux. The Python multiprocessing library allows Python pickles to be deserialized from any user in the same machine's local network namespace in many system configurations, which means any user on the same machine. Pickles can execute arbitrary code. This flaw allows local user privilege escalation to the user that any Python multiprocessing forkserver process is running.
Statement
Versions of python36:3.6/python36 as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 are marked as 'Not affected' as they just provide "symlinks" to the main python3 component, which provides the actual interpreter of the Python programming language.
CVSS score applicability
The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
CVSS / CWE
CVSS 3.1 · 7.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE-269 · Improper Privilege Management