CVE-2015-3206
python-kerberos vulnerable to KDC spoofing attacks
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
8.1
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
CVE-2015-3206- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.8 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-287
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
CVE-2015-3206- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2017-0067 No score
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
EUVD-2017-0067- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-mffc-9gx5-99g3
9.2
python-kerberos vulnerable to KDC spoofing attacks
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
GHSA-mffc-9gx5-99g3- CVSS 4.0
- 9.2 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-287
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.1
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
CVE-2015-3206- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2015-3206
8.1
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2015-3206- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-mffc-9gx5-99g3
9.2
python-kerberos vulnerable to KDC spoofing attacks
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
GHSA-mffc-9gx5-99g3- CVSS 4.0
- 9.2 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-287
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2015-3206
8.1
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2015-3206- CVSS 3.0
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2017-49 No score
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
PYSEC-2017-49- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2017-66 No score
The checkPassword function in python-kerberos does not authenticate the KDC it attempts to communicate with, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bad response), or have other unspecified impact by performing a man-in-the-middle attack.
- Record
PYSEC-2017-66- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
kerberosPyPI |
through 1.2.5 | None known |
pykerberosPyPI |
before 1.1.6 | 1.1.6 |
pykerberosDebian:12 |
before 1.1.5-1 | 1.1.5-1 |
pykerberosDebian:13 |
before 1.1.5-1 | 1.1.5-1 |
pykerberosDebian:14 |
before 1.1.5-1 | 1.1.5-1 |
pykerberosDebian:6.0 |
before 1.1+svn4895-1+deb6u1, plus listed versions 1.1+svn4895-1 |
1.1+svn4895-1+deb6u1 |
pykerberosDebian:6.0 |
before 1.1+svn4895-1+deb6u2, plus listed versions 1.1+svn4895-1 |
1.1+svn4895-1+deb6u2 |
kerberosPyPI |
through 1.2.5, plus listed versions 1.1.11.1.21.2.01.2.21.2.31.2.4 |
None known |
pykerberosPyPI |
before 1.1.6, plus listed versions 1.1.31.1.41.1.5 |
1.1.6 |
kerberosPyPI |
0.0 and later, plus listed versions 1.1.11.1.21.2.01.2.21.2.3 Show 4 moreShow less1.2.41.2.51.3.01.3.1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| 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-2015-3206 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) in Apple Pykerberos, published July 3, 2015. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.39%, the 84th percentile. Fixed in pykerberos 1.1.6.
References
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/05/21/3
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1223802
pypi.python.org/pypi/kerberos
securityfocus.com/bid/74760
github.com/apple/ccs-pykerberos/issues/31
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3206
Show 10 moreShow less
github.com/apple/ccs-pykerberos/commit/9cb61c93f9b24dd18a0a315f3df5445529c5c333
web.archive.org/web/20150910143429/https://trac.calendarserver.org/ticket/833
web.archive.org/web/20200228090829/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/74760
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/kerberos/PYSEC-2017-49.yaml
github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/pykerberos/PYSEC-2017-66.yaml
github.com/advisories/GHSA-mffc-9gx5-99g3
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2015-3206
github.com/apple/ccs-pykerberos
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-3206
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-3206