CVE-2024-8088 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-835 (Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition) affecting the Python Software Foundation's CPython implementation, specifically the zipfile module's zipfile.Path API. The vulnerability arises when iterating over the names of entries in a zip archive using methods like namelist() or iterdir() on zipfile.Path objects. A specially crafted malicious zip archive can cause these iteration methods to enter an infinite loop, effectively causing the consuming process to hang indefinitely. This infinite loop can occur during metadata reading or content extraction phases. Importantly, the more commonly used zipfile.ZipFile class is not affected, limiting the scope to applications that use the zipfile.Path API. The vulnerability affects CPython versions starting from 3.9.0 up to 3.13.0a1. The CVSS v4.0 score is 8.7 (high severity), reflecting the network vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and a high impact on availability due to the infinite loop. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date (August 22, 2024). This vulnerability primarily poses a denial-of-service risk by causing applications to hang when processing malicious zip files. It is relevant to any software that processes user-controlled or untrusted zip archives using the zipfile.Path API, such as web applications, automated processing pipelines, or desktop software written in Python.

For European organizations, the primary impact is denial of service resulting from applications hanging indefinitely when processing malicious zip archives via the vulnerable zipfile.Path API. This can disrupt business operations, automated workflows, or services that rely on Python for handling zip files, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government where Python is widely used. Since no authentication or user interaction is required, attackers can remotely trigger the infinite loop by submitting crafted zip files to vulnerable endpoints or services. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is minimal, but availability is significantly affected. Organizations relying on Python versions 3.9.0 through 3.13.0a1 and using zipfile.Path to handle untrusted zip files are at risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as proof-of-concept exploits may emerge. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as part of multi-stage attacks to cause disruption or distract defenders.

1. Upgrade CPython to a patched version once the Python Software Foundation releases a fix addressing CVE-2024-8088. Monitor official Python security advisories for updates. 2. Until patches are available, avoid using the zipfile.Path API to process untrusted or user-supplied zip archives. Prefer the unaffected zipfile.ZipFile class for zip file operations. 3. Implement input validation and filtering to block or quarantine suspicious zip files before processing. 4. Employ resource and execution time limits on processes handling zip files to mitigate potential infinite loops causing denial of service. 5. Use sandboxing or containerization to isolate processes that handle untrusted zip files, limiting impact if an infinite loop occurs. 6. Monitor application logs and system metrics for signs of hanging or resource exhaustion related to zip file processing. 7. Educate developers and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure secure coding practices when handling archive files.