Python: Regular-expression DoS when parsing TarFile headers (CVE-2024-6232)
CVE-2024-6232 is a high severity vulnerability in CPython affecting the tarfile module. It involves a regular expression that allows excessive backtracking during the parsing of TarFile headers, leading to a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) when processing specially crafted tar archives. This vulnerability affects multiple Python versions prior to patched releases. Red Hat has issued an important security update addressing this issue in their python3.9 packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support. A patch is available to remediate the vulnerability.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2024-6232 is a vulnerability in the CPython tarfile module where regular expressions used to parse TarFile headers can cause excessive backtracking. This behavior can be exploited via specially crafted tar archives to trigger a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS). The vulnerability affects multiple Python versions including 3.8.x, 3.9.x, 3.10.x, 3.11.x, and 3.12.x prior to specific patch versions. Red Hat Product Security has released an important security advisory (RHSA-2024:6909) with patches for affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 systems. The advisory also references a related vulnerability CVE-2024-6923. No CVSS score is provided, but the severity is rated high by the source.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability can cause denial of service conditions by triggering excessive backtracking in regular expression processing during tarfile header parsing. This can lead to application or system resource exhaustion when processing malicious tar archives. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The impact is limited to denial of service and does not include code execution or data disclosure based on the provided information.
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Python versions. Red Hat has released updated python3.9 packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support that address this vulnerability. Users should follow the vendor's update instructions as detailed in the Red Hat advisory RHSA-2024:6909 (https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:6909). No additional mitigation steps are specified or required beyond applying the official patch.
Python: Regular-expression DoS when parsing TarFile headers (CVE-2024-6232)
Description
CVE-2024-6232 is a high severity vulnerability in CPython affecting the tarfile module. It involves a regular expression that allows excessive backtracking during the parsing of TarFile headers, leading to a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) when processing specially crafted tar archives. This vulnerability affects multiple Python versions prior to patched releases. Red Hat has issued an important security update addressing this issue in their python3.9 packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support. A patch is available to remediate the vulnerability.
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2024-6232 is a vulnerability in the CPython tarfile module where regular expressions used to parse TarFile headers can cause excessive backtracking. This behavior can be exploited via specially crafted tar archives to trigger a Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS). The vulnerability affects multiple Python versions including 3.8.x, 3.9.x, 3.10.x, 3.11.x, and 3.12.x prior to specific patch versions. Red Hat Product Security has released an important security advisory (RHSA-2024:6909) with patches for affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 systems. The advisory also references a related vulnerability CVE-2024-6923. No CVSS score is provided, but the severity is rated high by the source.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability can cause denial of service conditions by triggering excessive backtracking in regular expression processing during tarfile header parsing. This can lead to application or system resource exhaustion when processing malicious tar archives. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The impact is limited to denial of service and does not include code execution or data disclosure based on the provided information.
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Python versions. Red Hat has released updated python3.9 packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support that address this vulnerability. Users should follow the vendor's update instructions as detailed in the Red Hat advisory RHSA-2024:6909 (https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:6909). No additional mitigation steps are specified or required beyond applying the official patch.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Csaf Category
- csaf_security_advisory
- Csaf Version
- 2.0
- Publisher
- Red Hat Product Security
- Advisory Id
- RHSA-2024:6909
- Cve Count
- 2
- Additional Cves
- ["CVE-2024-6923"]
Threat ID: 6a3da1ef4853345fc1831bbd
Added to database: 06/25/2026, 21:47:27 UTC
Last enriched: 09/08/2026, 15:12:38 UTC
Last updated: 09/10/2026, 19:24:54 UTC
Views: 25
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