CVE-2017-17522
Lib/webbrowser.py in Python through 3.6.3 does not validate strings before launching the program specified by the BROWSER environment variable, which might allow remote attackers to conduct argument-injection attacks via a crafted URL.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (3.60%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
Lib/webbrowser.py in Python through 3.6.3 does not validate strings before launching the program specified by the BROWSER environment variable, which might allow remote attackers to conduct argument-injection attacks via a crafted URL. NOTE: a software maintainer indicates that exploitation is impossible because the code relies on subprocess.Popen and the default shell=False setting
- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 3.60% probability · 89th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-74
- Affected
- python/python
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 3.6% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/102207Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://bugs.python.org/issue32367
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-17522Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/102207Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://bugs.python.org/issue32367
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-17522Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.