Critical Vulnerability in Python Tarfile Module: CVE-2025-8194
Summary
CVE-2025-8194: There is a defect in the CPython “tarfile” module affecting the “TarFile” extraction and entry enumeration APIs. Affects python2.7 across 4 version ranges.
< 7040aa54f14676938970e10c5f74ea93cd56aa38
< c9d9f78feb1467e73fd29356c040bde1c104f29f
< cdae923ffe187d6ef916c0f665a31249619193fe
< fbc2a0ca9ac8aff6887f8ddf79b87b4510277227
No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Python programming language is widely used for various applications, including web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and more. The 'tarfile' module in Python allows for the reading and writing of tar archive files, which are commonly used for file compression and distribution. This module is essential for developers who need to handle tar files in their applications. However, a critical vulnerability has been identified in the tarfile module that affects its extraction and entry enumeration APIs, posing a significant risk to applications utilizing this functionality.
Vulnerability Detail
CVE-2025-8194 is a defect in the CPython 'tarfile' module that allows for the processing of tar archives with negative offsets without error. This flaw can lead to an infinite loop and deadlock during the parsing of maliciously crafted tar archives. If exploited, this vulnerability can cause applications to hang indefinitely, potentially leading to denial of service and impacting the availability of services relying on the affected Python versions.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can mitigate the vulnerability by applying a patch after importing the 'tarfile' module. The following code snippet demonstrates how to implement this patch:
import tarfile
Apply the patch to mitigate the vulnerability
(Insert patch code here)
For the specific patch details, refer to the following link: https://gist.github.com/sethmlarson/1716ac5b82b73dbcbf23ad2eff8b33e1
Conclusion
CVE-2025-8194 is a critical vulnerability in the Python 'tarfile' module that can lead to severe consequences if exploited. It is essential for developers using affected Python versions to update their packages promptly or apply the provided workaround to mitigate the risk. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor and manage vulnerabilities effectively.
See every vulnerability recorded for python2.7 →
FAQ
CVE-2025-8194 is a vulnerability in the Python 'tarfile' module that can lead to infinite loops and deadlocks when processing malicious tar archives.
The vulnerability affects Python 2.7, Python 3.9, Python 3.11, and Python 3.13 on Debian systems.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
If immediate updates are not possible, apply the provided workaround to mitigate the vulnerability until you can upgrade to a patched version.
More information can be found in the official CVE database and the provided patch link: https://gist.github.com/sethmlarson/1716ac5b82b73dbcbf23ad2eff8b33e1.
References
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