CVE-2021-23336 MEDIUM

CVE-2021-23336: Web Cache Poisoning

Vendor N/A
Product python/cpython
Published February 15, 2021
Last update December 17, 2025

CVSS base score

5.9/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity High
Privileges required None
User interaction Required
Confidentiality None
Integrity Low

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H/E:P/RL:U/RC:C

What the vulnerability does

01Description

The package python/cpython from 0 and before 3.6.13, from 3.7.0 and before 3.7.10, from 3.8.0 and before 3.8.8, from 3.9.0 and before 3.9.2 are vulnerable to Web Cache Poisoning via urllib.parse.parse_qsl and urllib.parse.parse_qs by using a vector called parameter cloaking. When the attacker can separate query parameters using a semicolon (;), they can cause a difference in the interpretation of the request between the proxy (running with default configuration) and the server. This can result in malicious requests being cached as completely safe ones, as the proxy would usually not see the semicolon as a separator, and therefore would not include it in a cache key of an unkeyed parameter.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

February 15, 2021 CVE published
December 17, 2025 Record updated