CVE-2024-3220
What it is
There is a defect in the CPython standard library module “mimetypes” where on Windows the default list of known file locations are writable meaning other users can create invalid files to cause MemoryError to be raised on Python runtime startup or have file extensions be interpreted as the incorrect file type. This defect is caused by the default locations of Linux and macOS platforms (such as “/etc/mime.types”) also being used on Windows, where they are user-writable locations (“C:\etc\mime.types”). To work-around this issue a user can call mimetypes.init() with an empty list (“[]”) on Windows platforms to avoid using the default list of known file locations.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited over the network with a low-privilege account. Limited direct impact.
- Exploit odds
- 0.7% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 0.7% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 2.3 LOW (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.7% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-426
- Record status
- Deferred
Attack profile CVSS 4.0 · 2.3
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- Low
Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2024-3220.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2024-3220. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/04a29bf8f9ff8526cd96cb7368400173303a390a
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/2f00690fd5a75305e02c99628a41439179266f29
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/35dd324f6e30735162a68cde84bb04a169004325
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/5550519259656cbb8eeac09e3dbc0d5c248a4dea
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/76f4555c4ff10f5dda58d6528c17787df41e256c
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/8d4286a3f41d36f42c4b4cf5c4451a5a8c23fe87
References
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/04a29bf8f9ff8526cd96cb7368400173303a390a
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/2f00690fd5a75305e02c99628a41439179266f29
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/35dd324f6e30735162a68cde84bb04a169004325
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/5550519259656cbb8eeac09e3dbc0d5c248a4dea
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/76f4555c4ff10f5dda58d6528c17787df41e256c
- https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/8d4286a3f41d36f42c4b4cf5c4451a5a8c23fe87
- https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/159428
- https://mail.python.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/CDXW34ND2LSAOYAR5N6UNONP4ZBX4D6R/
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/02/14/8
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250314-0001/