CVE-2024-3220

MIME mapping corruption via writable default search paths

Published Feb 14, 2025 · Updated Mar 14, 2025

Untrusted search path handling in CPython before 3.14.0 allows local users on Windows to alter MIME mappings or trigger a MemoryError. The mimetypes.init function treats Unix-style entries in knownfiles as Windows paths and reads matching user-writable files without verifying their trust. Exploitation requires access to create a default file such as C:\etc\mime.types, after which a targeted Python process can misclassify extensions or stop during initialization.

CVSS severity2.3
Low
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Untrusted search path handling in CPython before 3.14.0 allows local users on Windows to alter MIME mappings or trigger a MemoryError. The mimetypes.init function treats Unix-style entries in knownfiles as Windows paths and reads matching user-writable files without verifying their trust. Exploitation requires access to create a default file such as C:\etc\mime.types, after which a targeted Python process can misclassify extensions or stop during initialization.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-3220
Published
Feb 14, 2025
Updated
Mar 14, 2025
Vendor
Python Software Foundation
Product
CPython
Classifications
CWE-426, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 14, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 14, 2025Record 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 <3.14.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Python Software Foundation · CPythonversion=0 <3.14.0

Published CVSS scores

2.3Python Software FoundationCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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