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MessagePack for Python: Out-of-bounds read / crash on Unpacker reuse after a caught error

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jun 19, 2026 in msgpack/msgpack-python • Updated Jul 31, 2026

Package

pip msgpack (pip)

Affected versions

<= 1.2.0

Patched versions

1.2.1

Description

Impact

If the Unpacker is used repeatedly after an error occurs, the process may crash with a SEGV.

If the Unpacker is used repeatedly to unpack untrusted input from external sources, it may be vulnerable to a DoS attack.

Patches

v1.2.1

Workarounds

Users should create a new Unpacker instead of reusing the same Unpacker after an error occurs.

Applying the above patch can prevent SEGV, but reusing the Streaming Unpacker after it has encountered an error will not yield correct data. If an error occurs during Streaming Unpacking, the Stream and Streaming Unpacker should be discarded.

Therefore, this is not just a workaround but the correct solution. The above patch only prevents crashes from incorrect usage.

References

@methane methane published to msgpack/msgpack-python Jun 19, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jun 19, 2026
Reviewed Jun 19, 2026
Last updated Jul 31, 2026

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS score

Weaknesses

Use After Free

The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

No known CVE

GHSA ID

GHSA-6v7p-g79w-8964

Source code

Credits

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