CVE-2026-19445
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Remote TLS Server Crash via Freed SSLContext Pointer

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-19445, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-09-30

Last updated on: 2026-09-30

Assigner: Python Software Foundation

Description

A remote, unauthenticated TLS client can make a server crash or call through a freed pointer if its sni_callback assigns a different context to SSLSocket.context (the documented way to select a certificate per server name) and nothing else keeps the original ssl.SSLContext alive. Typical cases are servers that create an SSLContext per connection or replace it while connections are open; servers that wrap their listening socket with it are not affected. Mitigation: keep a reference to every SSLContext that sets sni_callback for the lifetime of the server. TLS clients are not affected.

CVSS Scores

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-30
Last Modified
2026-09-30
Generated
2026-09-30
AI Q&A
2026-09-30
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 7 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
python python 3.10
python python 3.11
python python 3.12
python python 3.13
python python 3.14
python python 3.15
mailman mailman 3

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-416 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 Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

This is a use-after-free vulnerability in Python's SSLContext when using a server-side SNI callback. A remote unauthenticated TLS client can crash the server or call a freed pointer by assigning a different context to SSLSocket.context without keeping the original SSLContext alive. Servers creating or replacing SSLContext per connection are affected; those wrapping listening sockets are not.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can cause server crashes or memory corruption, leading to denial of service. It may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code if exploited. Systems using Python's SSLContext with sni_callback in server mode are at risk, especially those creating or replacing SSLContext per connection.

Mitigation Strategies

Keep a reference to every SSLContext that sets sni_callback for the lifetime of the server. TLS clients are not affected.

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