CVE•Published 2020-07-17•Modified 2026-10-14•1 article on news•6 live references•NVD data
CVE-2020-15801Python · Python
Vulnerability data via NVD (ingested)
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS percentile
89
Exploit Prediction Scoring System · top 11% of all CVEs
Weaknesses (CWE)
Description
In Python 3.8.4, sys.path restrictions specified in a python38._pth file are ignored, allowing code to be loaded from arbitrary locations. The <executable-name>._pth file (e.g., the python._pth file) is not affected.
Timeline
Published 2020-07-17
Modified 2026-10-14
External references
Search for exposed instances
Shodan + Censys queries derived from NVD's CPE data. The vuln tag catches assets Shodan has explicitly linked to this CVE; the product / banner fingerprints find exposed instances even when the vuln tag was never applied (which is common).
Shodan · vuln tag5,592 hosts
vuln:CVE-2020-15801Hosts Shodan has explicitly fingerprinted as vulnerable.
Shodan · product
product:"Python Python"All exposed Python Python instances — cross-reference with the CVE's affected-version range.
Shodan · banner/body mention
http.html:"Python"HTTP body or banner mentions "Python" — catches deploys Shodan didn't identify as a product.
More intel sources (5)
Shodan report
vuln:CVE-2020-15801Country / ASN / product breakdown for the vuln query.
Censys
vulnerabilities.cve_id: CVE-2020-15801Censys host search filtered to this CVE id.
grep.app
CVE-2020-15801Public source-code mentions — fast PoC discovery.
GitHub code
CVE-2020-15801GitHub code search for direct mentions.
Google dork
"CVE-2020-15801" exploit -site:nvd.nist.govWrite-ups and news, NVD excluded.
Known PoCs on GitHub
No public proof-of-concept repositories found for CVE-2020-15801 on GitHub.