In CPython 3.13 and earlier, the tarfile modules data and tar extraction filters are vulnerable to crafted archives containing a hard link to a symbolic link. Such archives may cause extraction to modify the permissions or modification time of a file outside the destination directory, or expose the contents of that file within the extracted tree.
Weakness
The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
Affected Software
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images | RedHat | python3-14-main-3.14.7-1.1.hum1 | * |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | RedHat | python3-10-main-3.10.21-1.3.hum1 | * |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | RedHat | python3-11-main-3.11.16-1.4.hum1 | * |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | RedHat | python3-12-main-3.12.14-1.3.hum1 | * |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | RedHat | python3-13-main-3.13.15-1.3.hum1 | * |
Potential Mitigations
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.
Related Attack Patterns
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/132.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/17.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/35.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/76.html
References
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/197663d63afed27f66e10e23c194e8a634e60913
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/28f315486b3da0352b9a1de1c3c97f4127ba4771
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/5a57248b22ad3b9aafcaaadae2c304a1923daeca
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/b38be2e6cf9d989075ab73412c63e003ebad4ff3
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/b8f23e307097552eaea2604383a12ab280520d0d
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c66df4e70435d257fd488b35ea129c6f317433a8
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/cc1689830c6b9aaddded2fb9f2fe8116867e2c0e
- https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/157190
- https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/157191
- https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/EFJWGAZJA56AKSBR2WHMHQZO7RRLZPRH/
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/14/27