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High, CVSS 8.9amended

Picklescan does not block ctypes

CVE-2025-71323GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r

What to do

Vendor fix available. Upgrade each affected package to the fixed version on its release line (picklescan 0.0.33), redeploy, then verify what is actually installed.

This page has no inventory attached, so it cannot say whether you are affected. A vendor fix is not proof that your deployment is fixed.

Affected packages

Sources

Severity and exploitation
Exploitation
No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.
CVSS 4.0
8.9 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P · score source
EPSS
  • CVE-2025-71323: 0.99% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 62.59 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.
Source description

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary Picklescan doesnt flag ctypes module as a dangerous module, which is a huge issue. ctypes is basically a foreign function interface library and can be used to Load DLLs Call C functions directly Manipulate memory raw pointers. This can allow attackers to achieve RCE by invoking direct syscalls without going through blocked modules. Another major issue that ctypes being allowed presents is that it can be used down the line to dismantle interpreter based python sandboxes as ctypes allow direct access to raw memory. This is a more severe loophole than normal gadget chains and bypasses as raw memory access can be used for a lot of nefarious purposes down the line if left undetected PoC This will create a pickle file which is not detected by the latest version of picklescan as malicious <img width="1333" height="677" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f5b066f3-116a-4377-a538-f293f3a6c176" /

Dates and revisions
Published by the source
Last modified by the source
Source last checked
  1. Revision 3 · amended ·

    Amended from ghsa record GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r

  2. Revision 2 · amended ·

    Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

  3. Revision 1 · created ·

    Published from osv record GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r

Agent brief

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2025-71323

Advisory: Picklescan does not block ctypes
IDs: CVE-2025-71323, GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2025-71323 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 13:45 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 8.9)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: picklescan 0.0.33. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- PyPI picklescan: affected < 0.0.33; fixed in 0.0.33

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `python -m pip show picklescan`: prints the installed version. Run with the environment that serves production active.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on picklescan.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r (OSV record GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r lists affected ranges: PyPI picklescan >=0 <0.0.33 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-4675-36f9-wf6r lists affected ranges: PyPI picklescan >=0 <0.0.33)

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