pyasn1: Uncontrolled Recursion
CVE-2026-30922 is a high-severity uncontrolled recursion vulnerability in pyasn1, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected pyasn1 versions: < 0.6.3. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.89% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 60% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of pyasn1 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 18 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA |
Official description
pyasn1 is a generic ASN.1 library for Python. Prior to 0.6.3, the `pyasn1` library is vulnerable to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack caused by uncontrolled recursion when decoding ASN.1 data with deeply nested structures. An attacker can supply a crafted payload containing thousands of nested `SEQUENCE` (`0x30`) or `SET` (`0x31`) tags with "Indefinite Length" (`0x80`) markers. This forces the decoder to recursively call itself until the Python interpreter crashes with a `RecursionError` or consumes all available memory (OOM), crashing the host application. This is a distinct vulnerability from CVE-2026-23490 (which addressed integer overflows in OID decoding). The fix for CVE-2026-23490 (`MAX_OID_ARC_CONTINUATION_OCTETS`) does not mitigate this recursion issue. Version 0.6.3 fixes this specific issue.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Recursion
The product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Ensure that an end condition will be reached under all logic conditions. The end condition may include checking against the depth of recursion and exiting with an error if the recursion goes too deep. The complexity of the end condition contributes to the effectiveness of this action.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Patches and release notes
Other references
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/03/20/4
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/05/msg00001.html
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10184
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:12176
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13508
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13512
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13545
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13553
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13902
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13916
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13917
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:14020
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16009
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17083
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:17611
Other vulnerabilities in pyasn1
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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