diff --git a/infra/base-images/base-builder/Dockerfile b/infra/base-images/base-builder/Dockerfile
index 8dcbdce6cc5c..0ab8942650cc 100644
--- a/infra/base-images/base-builder/Dockerfile
+++ b/infra/base-images/base-builder/Dockerfile
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ FROM gcr.io/oss-fuzz-base/base-clang
 COPY install_deps.sh /
 RUN /install_deps.sh && rm /install_deps.sh
 
-# Build and install latest Python 3 (3.8.3).
-ENV PYTHON_VERSION 3.8.3
-RUN export PYTHON_DEPS="\
+# Build and install latest Python 3.10.
+ENV PYTHON_VERSION 3.10.14
+RUN PYTHON_DEPS="\
         zlib1g-dev \
         libncurses5-dev \
         libgdbm-dev \
@@ -39,12 +39,14 @@ RUN export PYTHON_DEPS="\
     tar -xvf Python-$PYTHON_VERSION.tar.xz && \
     cd Python-$PYTHON_VERSION && \
     ./configure --enable-optimizations --enable-shared && \
-    make -j install && \
+    make -j$(nproc) install && \
     ldconfig && \
-    ln -s /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/python && \
+    ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python && \
     cd .. && \
     rm -r /tmp/Python-$PYTHON_VERSION.tar.xz /tmp/Python-$PYTHON_VERSION && \
-    rm -rf /usr/local/lib/python3.8/test && \
+    rm -rf /usr/local/lib/python${PYTHON_VERSION%.*}/test && \
+    python3 -m ensurepip && \
+    python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip && \
     apt-get remove -y $PYTHON_DEPS # https://github.com/google/oss-fuzz/issues/3888
 
 # Install six for Bazel rules.
@@ -177,4 +179,4 @@ COPY llvmsymbol.diff $SRC
 COPY detect_repo.py /opt/cifuzz/
 COPY bazel.bazelrc /root/.bazelrc
 
-CMD ["compile"]
\ No newline at end of file
+CMD ["compile"]
diff --git a/infra/base-images/base-runner/Dockerfile b/infra/base-images/base-runner/Dockerfile
index 234ac9a01096..951d5b781865 100755
--- a/infra/base-images/base-runner/Dockerfile
+++ b/infra/base-images/base-runner/Dockerfile
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ RUN cargo install rustfilt
 # Using multi-stage build to copy some LLVM binaries needed in the runner image.
 FROM gcr.io/oss-fuzz-base/base-clang AS base-clang
 
+# The base builder image compiles a specific Python version. Using a multi-stage build
+# to copy that same Python interpreter into the runner image saves build time and keeps
+# the Python versions in sync.
+FROM gcr.io/oss-fuzz-base/base-builder AS base-builder
+
 # Real image that will be used later.
 FROM gcr.io/oss-fuzz-base/base-image
 
@@ -35,6 +40,18 @@ COPY --from=base-clang /usr/local/bin/llvm-cov \
      /usr/local/bin/llvm-symbolizer \
      /usr/local/bin/
 
+# Copy the pre-compiled Python binaries and libraries
+COPY --from=base-builder /usr/local/bin/python3.10 /usr/local/bin/python3.10
+COPY --from=base-builder /usr/local/lib/libpython3.10.so.1.0 /usr/local/lib/libpython3.10.so.1.0
+COPY --from=base-builder /usr/local/include/python3.10 /usr/local/include/python3.10
+COPY --from=base-builder /usr/local/lib/python3.10 /usr/local/lib/python3.10
+COPY --from=base-builder /usr/local/bin/pip3 /usr/local/bin/pip3
+
+# Create symbolic links to ensure compatibility
+RUN ldconfig && \
+    ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.10 /usr/local/bin/python3 && \
+    ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.10 /usr/local/bin/python
+
 COPY install_deps.sh /
 RUN /install_deps.sh && rm /install_deps.sh
 
diff --git a/infra/base-images/base-runner/install_deps.sh b/infra/base-images/base-runner/install_deps.sh
index ef12cde0061a..fc0569b339ad 100755
--- a/infra/base-images/base-runner/install_deps.sh
+++ b/infra/base-images/base-runner/install_deps.sh
@@ -20,12 +20,10 @@
 apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     binutils \
     file \
+    ca-certificates \
     fonts-dejavu \
     git \
     libcap2 \
-    python3 \
-    python3-pip \
-    python3-setuptools \
     rsync \
     unzip \
     wget \