CVE-2024-12718Public exploitNetwork attack vector

External file metadata modification via symlink retargeting

Published Jun 3, 2025 · Updated Jul 31, 2026

Path traversal in affected CPython releases allows attackers to modify metadata on files outside the extraction directory via a crafted tar archive. TarFile.extractall() and TarFile.extract() defer directory metadata updates, then follow a retargeted symlink named like the directory and apply chmod or timestamps to its external target. The caller must extract an untrusted archive with filter="tar" or filter="data"; the result is limited to permission or timestamp changes rather than file-content writes.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in affected CPython releases allows attackers to modify metadata on files outside the extraction directory via a crafted tar archive. TarFile.extractall() and TarFile.extract() defer directory metadata updates, then follow a retargeted symlink named like the directory and apply chmod or timestamps to its external target. The caller must extract an untrusted archive with filter="tar" or filter="data"; the result is limited to permission or timestamp changes rather than file-content writes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-12718
Published
Jun 3, 2025
Updated
Jul 31, 2026
Vendor
Python Software Foundation
Product
CPython
Classifications
CWE-22, T1222.002, T1070.006
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 3, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 31, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <3.9.23
  2. Affected versionversion=3.10.0 <3.10.18
  3. Affected versionversion=3.11.0 <3.11.13
  4. Affected versionversion=3.12.0 <3.12.11
  5. Affected versionversion=3.13.0 <3.13.4
  6. Affected versionversion=3.14.0a1 <3.14.0b3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Python Software Foundation · CPythonversion=0 <3.9.23; version=3.10.0 <3.10.18; version=3.11.0 <3.11.13; version=3.12.0 <3.12.11; version=3.13.0 <3.13.4; version=3.14.0a1 <3.14.0b3

Published CVSS scores

5.3Python Software FoundationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1222.002Linux and Mac File and Directory Permissions Modification
T1070.006Timestomp

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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