# CVE-2016-1494: Python RSA allows attackers to spoof signatures

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-1494-python-rsa-allows-attackers-to-spoof-signatures  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2016-01-13  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-1494 · Severity: low · CVSS 3 · Published 2016-01-13

The verify function in the RSA package for Python (Python-RSA) before 3.3 allows attackers to spoof signatures with a small public exponent via crafted signature padding, aka a BERserk attack.

Technologies: [rsa (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-rsa). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-1494 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2016-1494 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2016-1494?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3, published 13 January 2016.

**Which products and versions are affected?** rsa (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-1494?** Yes. rsa (PyPI): upgrade to 3.3 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-1494?** Check whether you run rsa (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- rsa (PyPI): upgrade to 3.3 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "rsa>=3.3"
  ```


## Affected products

- rsa (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.3

## Identifiers

- CVE-2016-1494
- GHSA-8rjr-6qq5-pj9p
- PYSEC-2016-10

## Related threats

- [Timing attacks in python-rsa](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-25658-timing-attacks-in-python-rsa)
- [PYSEC-2020-99 - Python-RSA before 4.1 ignores leading '\0' bytes during decryption of ciphertext. This could conceivably have a security-relevant impact, e.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-13757-python-rsa-decryption-of-ciphertext-leads-to-dos)