Summary
pyminizip affected by zlib's integer overflow/heap based buffer overflow vulnerability due to vulnerable dependency
MiniZip in zlib through 1.3 has an integer overflow and resultant heap-based buffer overflow in zipOpenNewFileInZip4_64 via a long filename, comment, or extra field. NOTE: MiniZip is not a supported part of the zlib product.
pyminizip uses version 1.2.11 of zlib's code.
Impact
An arithmetic operation produces a value that exceeds the integer type's maximum, causing it to wrap to an unexpected small value. Typical impact: incorrect size calculations leading to heap overflows or logic errors.
CVE-2023-45853 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
In the interim: Keep the dependency up to date. In native-code projects, use checked arithmetic or integer types that enforce bounds.
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-45853? CVE-2023-45853 is a critical-severity integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability in pyminizip (pip), affecting versions <= 0.2.6. No fixed version is listed yet. An arithmetic operation produces a value that exceeds the integer type's maximum, causing it to wrap to an unexpected small value.
- How severe is CVE-2023-45853? CVE-2023-45853 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of pyminizip are affected by CVE-2023-45853? pyminizip (pip) versions <= 0.2.6 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-45853? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2023-45853 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2023-45853 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-45853 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2023-45853 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2023-45853? No fixed version is listed yet. In the interim: Keep the dependency up to date. In native-code projects, use checked arithmetic or integer types that enforce bounds.