CVE-2020-13091: pandas through 1.0.3 can unserialize and execute commands from an untrusted file that is passed to the read_pi

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-13091?

pandas: upgrade to newer than 1.0.3. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-13091 being exploited?

CVE-2020-13091 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2020-13091 affect?

CVE-2020-13091 affects pandas. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). pandas through 1.0.3 can unserialize and execute commands from an untrusted file that is passed to the read_pickle() function, if __reduce__ makes an os.system call. NOTE: third parties dispute this issue because the read_pickle() function

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-13091?

Priority 67/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADE

CVE-2020-13091 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting pandas. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

pandas through 1.0.3 can unserialize and execute commands from an untrusted file that is passed to the read_pickle() function, if __reduce__ makes an os.system call. NOTE: third parties dispute this issue because the read_pickle() function is documented as unsafe and it is the user's responsibility to use the function in a secure manner

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	3.5% (top 11%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-502
Published	2020-05-15
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: numfocus

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-05-15 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:52 UTCUpdated Record last modified

numfocus pandas UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.0.3

Fixed in: newer than 1.0.3

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy pandas || rpm -q pandas || pandas --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.0.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade pandas

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade pandas

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-13091?

pandas: upgrade to newer than 1.0.3. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-13091 being exploited?

CVE-2020-13091 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-13091 affect?

CVE-2020-13091 affects pandas. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). pandas through 1.0.3 can unserialize and execute commands from an untrusted file that is passed to the read_pickle() function, if __reduce__ makes an os.system call. NOTE: third parties dispute this issue because the read_pickle() function

How urgent is CVE-2020-13091?

Priority 67/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Pandas and NumPy vulnerabilities

References

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