# CVE-2019-19450: ReportLab vulnerable to remote code execution via paraparser

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via crafted XML input in ReportLab's paraparser due to unsafe evaluation of unichar elements.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALSA-2023:5790, DEBIAN-CVE-2019-19450, GHSA-pj98-2xf6-cff5, PYSEC-2026-522, RHSA-2023:5616, RHSA-2023:5786, RHSA-2023:5787, RHSA-2023:5788, RHSA-2023:5789, RHSA-2023:5790, SUSE-SU-2023:3972-1, SUSE-SU-2023:4048-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-19450

## What is CVE-2019-19450?

CVE-2019-19450 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 20 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

paraparser in ReportLab before 3.5.31 allows remote code execution because start_unichar in paraparser.py evaluates untrusted user input in a unichar element in a crafted XML document with '<unichar code="' followed by arbitrary Python code, a similar issue to CVE-2019-17626.

Weakness: CWE-91 (XML Injection)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-19450?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including reportlab. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `reportlab` | PyPI | All versions | 3.5.31 |
| `reportlab` | PyPI | All versions | 3.5.31 |
| `reportlab` | PyPI | All versions | 3.5.31 |
| `python3-reportlab` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 3.4.0-8.el8_8.1.alma.1 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab-docs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab-docs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab-docs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | All versions | 0:2.5-11.el7_9 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_8.1 |
| `python-reportlab-debugsource` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_8.1 |
| `python3-reportlab` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_8.1 |
| `python3-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_8.1 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python-reportlab-debugsource` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python3-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python3-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python-reportlab-debugsource` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python3-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python3-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:rhel_aus:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-6.el8_1.5 |
| `python-reportlab-debugsource` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-6.el8_1.5 |
| `python3-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-6.el8_1.5 |
| `python3-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-6.el8_1.5 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python-reportlab-debugsource` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python3-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python3-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.2::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_2.1 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python-reportlab-debugsource` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python3-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python3-reportlab-debuginfo` | Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_4.1 |
| `python-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_6.1 |
| `python-reportlab-debugsource` | Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_6.1 |
| `python3-reportlab` | Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstream | All versions | 0:3.4.0-8.el8_6.1 |

Products: Debian Debian Linux, Reportlab Reportlab.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-19450?

Upgrade reportlab to 3.5.31 or later.

## Is CVE-2019-19450 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-19450 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-19450 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-19450 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 20 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-19450 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- reportlab (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.5.31
- reportlab (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.5.31
- reportlab (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.5.31

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-19450/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-19450/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-19450
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-19450
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-19450

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-19450/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.