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Medium

Information disclosure in AccessControl

  • Disclosed: 07.09.2023
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 14:18

Impact

Python's "format" functionality allows someone controlling the format string to "read" objects accessible (recursively) via attribute access and subscription from accessible objects. Those attribute accesses and subscriptions use Python's full blown getattr and getitem, not the policy restricted AccessControl variants _getattr_ and _getitem_. This can lead to critical information disclosure.

AccessControl already provides a safe variant for str.format and denies access to string.Formatter. However, str.format_map is still unsafe.

Affected are all users who allow untrusted users to create AccessControl controlled Python code and execute it.

Patches

A fix will be introduced in the versions 4.4, 5.8 and 6.2.

Workarounds

There are no workarounds.

References

https://github.com/zopefoundation/RestrictedPython/security/advisories/GHSA-xjw2-6jm9-rf67 describes the corresponding problem for RestrictedPython.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Python (PyPI) accesscontrol < 4.4, >= 5.0, < 5.8, >= 6.0, < 6.2 4.4, 5.8, 6.2
Python (PyPI) zope < 4.8.9, >= 5.0.0, < 5.8.4 4.8.9, 5.8.4

References

CVSS score 6.8/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-200
Platform
Python (PyPI)
Package
accesscontrol, zope
Disclosed
07.09.2023
Updated
11.10.2026 14:18

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-2075 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-8xv7-89vj-q48c - CC BY 4.0

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-2325 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: zope

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (17) in the archive
Total entries
17
First → latest
05.2021 11.2024
Without a fix
4
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 1
  • High 8
  • Medium 6
  • Low 2

Disclosures per year

Severity:
  1. Access control vulnerable to user data deletion by anonynmous users
    Critical · 9.1 CVE-2024-51734 < 5.11.1 5.11.1
  2. Information disclosure in AccessControl this entry
    Medium · 6.8 CVE-2023-41050 < 4.8.9, >= 5.0.0, < 5.8.4 4.8.9, 5.8.4
  3. ZCatalog plug-in for Zope allows anonymous users to bypass access restrictions
    High CVE-2002-0688 >= 2.4.0, < 2.6.0 2.6.0
  4. Zope does not properly verify the access for objects with proxy roles
    High CVE-2002-0170 >= 2.2.0, < 2.4.4, >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1 2.4.4, 2.5.1
  5. Zope does not properly perform security registration for legacy names
    High CVE-2000-1211 >= 2.2.0, <= 2.2.4 no fix
  6. Zope does not properly restrict access to the getRoles method
    High CVE-2000-0725 < 2.2.1 2.2.1
  7. Zope DTML implementation Improper Authentication
    High CVE-2000-0062 >= 2.2.0, <= 2.2.4 no fix
  8. Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope
    High · 7.5 CVE-2021-32811 >= 4.0, < 4.6.3, >= 5.0, < 5.3 4.6.3, 5.3
  9. Zope is an open-source web application server. This advisory extends the previous advisory at https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36 with additional cases of TA
    High · 8.8 CVE-2021-32674 >= 4.0, < 4.6.1, >= 5.0, < 5.2.1 4.6.1, 5.2.1
  10. Zope is an open-source web application server. In Zope versions prior to 4.6 and 5.2, users can access untrusted modules indirectly through Python modules that are available for direct use. By default
    High · 8.8 CVE-2021-32633 < 4.6, >= 5.0, < 5.2 4.6, 5.2

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