Vulnerability · Published Aug 10, 2026 · Assigned by PSF
CVE-2026-18503Super-linear CPU usage for unbounded input to csv.Sniffer.sniff()
Low 2.4
In plain English
A low-severity security flaw in CPython from Python Software Foundation. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.1% (higher than 2% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Severity (CVSS 4.0)2.4Low
Exploit odds (30 days)0.1%top 98.2% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: none
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known
Official description
Attacker-controlled CSV samples can trigger super-linear regular-expression work during dialect sniffing and consume significant CPU when applications pass unbounded input to csv.Sniffer.sniff().
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | pypy3 | no fix listed | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Debian:13 | pypy3 | no fix listed | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Debian:14 | pypy3 | 8.0.1+dfsg-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Debian:12 | python3.11 | 3.11.2-6+deb12u9 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Debian:13 | python3.13 | no fix listed | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Debian:14 | python3.14 | 3.14.7-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Debian:14 | python3.15 | 3.15.0~rc1-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | python3.10 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | python3.12 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Ubuntu:26.04:LTS | python3.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-18503 |
| Ubuntu:26.10 | python3.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2026-18503 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Python Software Foundation | CPython | 0 – before 3.10.213.11.0 – before 3.11.163.12.0 – before 3.12.143.13.0 – before 3.13.153.14.0 – before 3.14.73.15.0a1 – before 3.15.0rc13.16.0a1 – before 3.16.0 |
Weakness: CWE-1176 · Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
References
- https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/KQ7NBMCPAZJHRROQXJQE4GMXGLD5KHBS/ vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/153694 patch
- https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/98820 issue-tracking
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/063d4555c94ef412c731527dbf30193327f2ee82 patch
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/476fb09cdb0d73e645849d98c610e7e5697ce7c9 patch
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/89f29c760c02774b099ddd6863268eb13fa3946a patch
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/b30c7fa9edd921a118f286e9f90f560777fa693b patch
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/b09a67a20c464f8288c9f9a6b9c7082a74560024 patch
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/fd78b565d7c326f96ae903ab945b47f35d829cf4 patch