CVE-2024-12254 HIGH

CVE-2024-12254: Unbounded memory buffering in SelectorSocketTransport.writelines()

Vendor Python Software Foundation
Product CPython
Weakness CWE-400
Published December 6, 2024
Last update April 4, 2025

CVSS base score

8.7/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality
Integrity

CVSS vector

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

What the vulnerability does

01Description

Starting in Python 3.12.0, the asyncio._SelectorSocketTransport.writelines() method would not "pause" writing and signal to the Protocol to drain the buffer to the wire once the write buffer reached the "high-water mark". Because of this, Protocols would not periodically drain the write buffer potentially leading to memory exhaustion. This vulnerability likely impacts a small number of users, you must be using Python 3.12.0 or later, on macOS or Linux, using the asyncio module with protocols, and using .writelines() method which had new zero-copy-on-write behavior in Python 3.12.0 and later. If not all of these factors are true then your usage of Python is unaffected.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

December 6, 2024 CVE published
April 4, 2025 Record updated