CVE-2024-23346Public exploit

Arbitrary code execution via unsafe transformation eval

Published Feb 21, 2024 · Updated Aug 19, 2024

Code injection in Materials Project pymatgen before 2024.2.20 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted CIF file. JonesFaithfulTransformation.from_transformation_str() inserts implicit multiplication operators, then passes attacker-controlled basis-change expressions to Python eval() with an ineffective built-ins restriction. Exploitation requires an application or local workflow to parse attacker-controlled CIF content, after which code runs with the parser process's privileges.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability3.82%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Materials Project pymatgen before 2024.2.20 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted CIF file. JonesFaithfulTransformation.from_transformation_str() inserts implicit multiplication operators, then passes attacker-controlled basis-change expressions to Python eval() with an ineffective built-ins restriction. Exploitation requires an application or local workflow to parse attacker-controlled CIF content, after which code runs with the parser process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-23346
Published
Feb 21, 2024
Updated
Aug 19, 2024
Vendor
Materials Project
Product
pymatgen
Classifications
CWE-77, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 19, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2024.2.20
  2. Affected versionversion=< 2024.2.20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Materials Project · pymatgenversion=0 <2024.2.20; version=< 2024.2.20

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1204.002Malicious File

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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