CVE-2016-1494
Python RSA allows attackers to spoof signatures
CVE-2016-1494 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Python Rsa, published January 12, 2016. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 7.05%, the 94th percentile. Fixed in rsa 3.3.
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
CVE-2016-1494- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 5.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
CVE-2016-1494- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2016-0032 No score
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
EUVD-2016-0032- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8rjr-6qq5-pj9p
Python RSA allows attackers to spoof signatures
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
GHSA-8rjr-6qq5-pj9p- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
CVE-2016-1494- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2016-1494
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2016-1494- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-8rjr-6qq5-pj9p
Python RSA allows attackers to spoof signatures
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
GHSA-8rjr-6qq5-pj9p- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20, CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2016-1494
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-1494- CVSS 3.0
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2016-0011 No score
Updated python-rsa packages fix security vulnerability
A signature forgery vulnerability in python-rsa allows an attacker to fake signatures for arbitrary messages for any key with a low exponent "e", such as the common value of 3 (CVE-2016-1494).
- Record
MGASA-2016-0011- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2016-10 No score
The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.
- Record
PYSEC-2016-10- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2016:0107-1 No score
Security update for python-rsa
This update for python-rsa fixes the following security issue:
- CVE-2016-1494: Possible signature forgery via Bleichenbacher attack (bsc#960680)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2016:0107-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
rsaPyPI |
before 3.3 | 3.3 |
python-rsaDebian:12 |
before 3.2.3-1.1 | 3.2.3-1.1 |
python-rsaDebian:13 |
before 3.2.3-1.1 | 3.2.3-1.1 |
python-rsaDebian:14 |
before 3.2.3-1.1 | 3.2.3-1.1 |
rsaPyPI |
before 3.3, plus listed versions 1.11.21.31.3.11.3.2 Show 13 moreShow less1.3.32.03.03.0.13.13.1.13.1.23.1.33.1.43.23.2.13.2.23.2.3 |
3.3 |
python-rsaMageia:5 |
before 3.1.4-6.1.mga5 | 3.1.4-6.1.mga5 |
python-rsaSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 12 |
before 3.1.4-11.1 | 3.1.4-11.1 |
python-rsaUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 3.1.2-1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 3.1.2-1 |
3.1.2-1ubuntu0.1 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | matthiasbe/secuimag3a | 2016-12-02 |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | aliases | EUVD |
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
References
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/05/3
securityfocus.com/bid/79829
blog.filippo.io/bleichenbacher-06-signature-forgery-in-python-rsa
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-January/175897.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-01/msg00032.html
Show 16 moreShow less
bitbucket.org/sybren/python-rsa/pull-requests/14/security-fix-bb06-attack-in-verify-by/diff
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1494
github.com/sybrenstuvel/python-rsa/commit/ab5d21c3b554f926d51ff3ad9c794bcf32e95b3c
web.archive.org/web/20210123020914/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/79829
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-1494
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2016-0011.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=17451
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2016/suse-su-20160107-1
bugzilla.suse.com/960680
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-1494
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-1494