CVE-2021-32811
Remote Code Execution via Script (Python) objects under Python 3
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.5
Remote Code Execution via Script (Python) objects under Python 3
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
- Record
CVE-2021-32811- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-915
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-34766
7.5
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
- Record
EUVD-2021-34766- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr
7.7
Remote Code Execution via Script (Python) objects under Python 3
Impact
Background: The optional add-on package Products.PythonScripts adds Script (Python) to the list of content items a user can add to the Zope object database. Inside these scripts users can write Python code that is executed when rendered through the web. The code environment in these script objects is limited, it relies on the RestrictedPython package to provide a "safe" subset of Python instructions as well as the AccessControl package that defines security policies for execution in the context of a Zope application.
Recently the AccessControl package was updated to fix a remote code execution security issue. A link to the security advisory is provided in the References section below. The bug tightens the AccessControl security policies for Zope by blocking access to unsafe classes inside the Python string module.
You are only affected if the following are true:
- You use Python 3 for your Zope deployment (Zope 4 on Python 2 is not affected)
- You run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3
- You have installed the optional
Products.PythonScriptsadd-on package
By default, you need to have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web - which would be a very unusual configuration to begin with - are at risk.
Patches
The problem has been fixed in AccessControl versions 4.3 and 5.2. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 now require these new AccessControl releases.
Workarounds
A site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
References
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in the Zope issue tracker
- Email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr- CVSS 4.0
- 7.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-915, CWE-1321
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.5
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
- Record
CVE-2021-32811- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.5 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-915, CWE-1321
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.2
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
- Record
CVE-2021-32811- CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr
7.7
Remote Code Execution via Script (Python) objects under Python 3
Impact
Background: The optional add-on package Products.PythonScripts adds Script (Python) to the list of content items a user can add to the Zope object database. Inside these scripts users can write Python code that is executed when rendered through the web. The code environment in these script objects is limited, it relies on the RestrictedPython package to provide a "safe" subset of Python instructions as well as the AccessControl package that defines security policies for execution in the context of a Zope application.
Recently the AccessControl package was updated to fix a remote code execution security issue. A link to the security advisory is provided in the References section below. The bug tightens the AccessControl security policies for Zope by blocking access to unsafe classes inside the Python string module.
You are only affected if the following are true:
- You use Python 3 for your Zope deployment (Zope 4 on Python 2 is not affected)
- You run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3
- You have installed the optional
Products.PythonScriptsadd-on package
By default, you need to have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web - which would be a very unusual configuration to begin with - are at risk.
Patches
The problem has been fixed in AccessControl versions 4.3 and 5.2. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 now require these new AccessControl releases.
Workarounds
A site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
References
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in the Zope issue tracker
- Email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr- CVSS 4.0
- 7.7 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-1321, CWE-915
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2021-32811
7.5
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-32811- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-368 No score
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
- Record
PYSEC-2021-368- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2021-370 No score
Zope is an open-source web application server. Zope versions prior to versions 4.6.3 and 5.3 have a remote code execution security issue. In order to be affected, one must use Python 3 for one's Zope deployment, run Zope 4 below version 4.6.3 or Zope 5 below version 5.3, and have the optional Products.PythonScripts add-on package installed. By default, one must have the admin-level Zope "Manager" role to add or edit Script (Python) objects through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit these scripts through the web are at risk. Zope releases 4.6.3 and 5.3 are not vulnerable. As a workaround, a site administrator can restrict adding/editing Script (Python) objects through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing these scripts through the web should be restricted to trusted users only. This is the default configuration in Zope.
- Record
PYSEC-2021-370- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
zopePyPI |
4.0 up to 4.6.3 | 4.6.3 |
zopePyPI |
5.0 up to 5.3 | 5.3 |
zopePyPI |
4.0 up to 4.6.3, plus listed versions 4.14.1.14.1.24.1.34.2 Show 16 moreShow less4.2.14.34.44.4.14.4.24.4.34.4.44.54.5.14.5.24.5.34.5.44.5.54.64.6.14.6.2 |
4.6.3 |
zopePyPI |
5.0 up to 5.3, plus listed versions 5.15.1.15.1.25.25.2.1 |
5.3 |
zopePyPI |
4.0 up to 4.6.3, 5.0 up to 5.3, plus listed versions 4.14.1.14.1.24.1.34.2 Show 39 moreShow less4.2.14.34.44.4.14.4.24.4.34.4.44.54.5.14.5.24.5.34.5.44.5.54.64.6.14.6.25.15.1.15.1.25.25.2.15.0a25.0a14.0b104.0b94.0b84.0b74.0b64.0b54.0b44.0b34.0b24.0b14.0a64.0a54.0a44.0a34.0a24.0a1 |
4.6.35.3 |
accesscontrolPyPI |
4.0 up to 4.3, 5.0 up to 5.2, plus listed versions 4.14.25.1 |
4.35.2 |
zope2.13Ubuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.13.22-1ubuntu1 |
None known |
zope2.13Ubuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.13.22-1ubuntu1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-32811 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Zope, published August 2, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.30%, the 83rd percentile. Fixed in zope 4.6.3.
References
github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-g4gq-j4p2-j8fr
github.com/zopefoundation/AccessControl/security/advisories/GHSA-qcx9-j53g-ccgf
github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/commit/f72a18dda8e9bf2aedb46168761668464a4be988
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32811
github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/commit/869f947e586517566509e0ccdd4d99b60704cc02
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/zope/PYSEC-2021-368.yaml