CVE-2025-4517Public exploitNetwork attack vectorHinoki check available

Arbitrary file writes via realpath overflow

Published Jun 3, 2025 · Updated Aug 4, 2026

Path traversal in affected CPython releases allows remote attackers to write files outside a tar extraction directory. The tarfile data and tar filters accept a crafted symlink chain because os.path.realpath silently stops resolving links when expansion exceeds the platform path limit, leaving a safe-looking path that extraction later follows. Reachability requires TarFile.extract() or extractall() to process an untrusted archive with either filter; the consequence is bounded by the process's filesystem permissions.

CVSS severity9.4
Critical
EPSS probability1.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Path traversal in affected CPython releases allows remote attackers to write files outside a tar extraction directory. The tarfile data and tar filters accept a crafted symlink chain because os.path.realpath silently stops resolving links when expansion exceeds the platform path limit, leaving a safe-looking path that extraction later follows. Reachability requires TarFile.extract() or extractall() to process an untrusted archive with either filter; the consequence is bounded by the process's filesystem permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-4517
Published
Jun 3, 2025
Updated
Aug 4, 2026
Vendor
Python Software Foundation
Product
CPython
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 3, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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

9.4Python Software FoundationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L

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')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo