CVE-2026-6100: Use-after-free in lzma.LZMADecompressor, bz2.BZ2Decompressor, and gzip.GzipFile after re-use under memory pressure

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-6100 is a critical (CVSS 9.1) Use After Free vulnerability in python software foundation cpython. EPSS estimates a 0.58% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 47.6% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 13-04-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 13-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Use-after-free (UAF) was possible in the `lzma.LZMADecompressor`, `bz2.BZ2Decompressor`, and `gzip.GzipFile` when a memory allocation fails with a `MemoryError` and the decompression instance is re-used. This scenario can be triggered if the process is under memory pressure. The fix cleans up the dangling pointer in this specific error condition. The vulnerability is only present if the program re-uses decompressor instances across multiple decompression calls even after a `MemoryError` is raised during decompression. Using the helper functions to one-shot decompress data such as `lzma.decompress()`, `bz2.decompress()`, `gzip.decompress()`, and `zlib.decompress()` are not affected as a new decompressor instance is used per call. If the decompressor instance is not re-used after an error condition, this usage is similarly not vulnerable.

• CWE-416Use After FreeThe 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 Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.
• CWE-787Out-of-bounds WriteThe product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
• CWE-825Expired Pointer DereferenceThe product dereferences a pointer that contains a location for memory that was previously valid, but is no longer valid.