CVE-2019-16784

7.0 HIGH 0.7% exploit odds Fix listed

What it is

In PyInstaller before version 3.6, only on Windows, a local privilege escalation vulnerability is present in this particular case: If a software using PyInstaller in "onefile" mode is launched by a privileged user (at least more than the current one) which have his "TempPath" resolving to a world writable directory. This is the case for example if the software is launched as a service or as a scheduled task using a system account (TempPath will be C:\Windows\Temp). In order to be exploitable the software has to be (re)started after the attacker launch the exploit program, so for a service launched at startup, a service restart is needed (e.g. after a crash or an upgrade).

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
Exploit odds: 0.7% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2020-01-14 20:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-06-17 02:22 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 0.7% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 7.0 HIGH (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2020-01-14 20:15 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 02:22 UTC
Exploit probability: 0.7% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-250 · Unnecessary privileges
Record status: Modified

Affected

Pyinstaller < 3.6

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.0

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: High
Privileges needed: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2019-16784.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2019-16784. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record