CVE-2026-22612·Python vulnerability
Fickling is a Python pickling decompiler and static analyzer. Prior to version 0.1.7, Fickling is vulnerable to detection bypass due to "builtins" blindness. This issue has been patched in version 0.1.7.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Python
- Fixed in
- 0.1.7
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.26% — higher than 18% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Read the two together. CVE-2026-22612 scores 7.8 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.26%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
Affected versions
Until: 0.1.7
Fixed in: 0.1.7
How to fix this CVE
Update the Fickling library to version 0.1.7 or later to remediate the detection bypass vulnerability in Python pickle analysis. This vulnerability allows malicious pickle files to evade security detection due to incomplete handling of built-in function references. Ensure all systems running Fickling for pickle static analysis or decompilation are patched immediately.
sudo dnf update python3-ficklingDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed Fickling version: python3 -c "import fickling; print(fickling.__version__)"
- Verify if Fickling is used in your environment: grep -r "import fickling" /opt /home /srv --include="*.py"
- Search application logs for pickle analysis operations: grep -i "pickle\|fickling" /var/log/application.log | head -20
- Confirm the patch: python3 -c "import fickling; assert fickling.__version__ >= '0.1.7', 'Vulnerable version detected'"
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-22612?
CVE-2026-22612 is a detection bypass vulnerability in Fickling, a Python pickle decompiler and static analyzer. Attackers can craft malicious pickle files that circumvent Fickling's security detection mechanisms by exploiting incomplete handling of built-in function references.
Is CVE-2026-22612 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and has no public exploit code available.
What versions of Python/Fickling are affected by CVE-2026-22612?
All versions of Fickling prior to 0.1.7 are vulnerable. Python versions themselves are not directly affected, but any Python environment running vulnerable Fickling versions is at risk.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-22612?
Run: python3 -m pip show fickling | grep Version. If the version is below 0.1.7, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-22612?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Fickling is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-22612 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Python CVEs
References
- https://github.com/trailofbits/fickling/commit/9f309ab834797f280cb5143a2f6f987579fa7cdf
- https://github.com/trailofbits/fickling/releases/tag/v0.1.7
- https://github.com/trailofbits/fickling/security/advisories/GHSA-h4rm-mm56-xf63
- https://github.com/trailofbits/fickling/security/advisories/GHSA-h4rm-mm56-xf63
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