Python CPython up to 3.14.0b1 TarFile.extractall/TarFile.extract path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Python CPython up to 3.14.0b1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function TarFile.extractall/TarFile.extract. Such manipulation leads to path traversal. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2025-4330. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Python CPython up to 3.14.0b1. Affected by this issue is the function TarFile.extractall/TarFile.extract. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. Impacted is integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Allows the extraction filter to be ignored, allowing symlink targets to point outside the destination directory, and the modification of some file metadata. You are affected by this vulnerability if using the tarfile module to extract untrusted tar archives using TarFile.extractall() or TarFile.extract() using the filter= parameter with a value of "data" or "tar". See the tarfile extraction filters documentation https://docs.python.org/3/library/tarfile.html#tarfile-extraction-filter  for more information. Only Python versions 3.12 or later are affected by these vulnerabilities, earlier versions don't include the extraction filter feature. Note that for Python 3.14 or later the default value of filter= changed from "no filtering" to `"data", so if you are relying on this new default behavior then your usage is also affected. Note that none of these vulnerabilities significantly affect the installation of source distributions which are tar archives as source distributions already allow arbitrary code execution during the build process. However when evaluating source distributions it's important to avoid installing source distributions with suspicious links.

The advisory is available at github.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-4330 since 05/05/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1006 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 240322 (Amazon Linux 2023 : python3.12, python3.12-devel, python3.12-idle (ALAS2023-2025-1044)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 3.14.0b2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (240322), EUVD (EUVD-2025-16737) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1231). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

• IBM AIX
• IBM VIOS
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Fedora Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Gentoo Linux
• Red Hat OpenShift
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• Dell Avamar
• IBM TXSeries
• Open Source Python
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Language Software

Vendor

• Python

Name

• CPython

Version

• 3.14.0b1

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/python/cpython/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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