critical CVSS 9.8

CVE-2024-52338·Python vulnerability

Deserialization of untrusted data in IPC and Parquet readers in the Apache Arrow R package versions 4.0.0 through 16.1.0 allows arbitrary code execution. An application is vulnerable if it reads Arrow IPC, Feather or Parquet data from untrusted sources (for example, user-supplied input files). This vulnerability only affects the arrow R package, not other Apache Arrow implementations or bindings unless those bindings are specifically used via the R package (for example, an R application that embeds a Python interpreter and uses PyArrow to read files from untrusted sources is still vulnerable if the arrow R package is an affected version). It is recommended that users of the arrow R package upgrade to 17.0.0 or later. Similarly, it is recommended that downstream libraries upgrade their dependency requirements to arrow 17.0.0 or later. If using an affected version of the package, untrusted data can read into a Table and its internal to_data_frame() method can be used as a workaround (e.g., read_parquet(..., as_data_frame = FALSE)$to_data_frame()). This issue affects the Apache Arrow R package: from 4.0.0 through 16.1.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 17.0.0, which fixes the issue.

Severity
critical
Software
Python
Fixed in
17.0.0
Published
2024-11-28

Affected versions

From: 4.0.0

Until: 17.0.0

Fixed in: 17.0.0

How to fix this CVE

Upgrade the Apache Arrow R package to version 17.0.0 or later to eliminate the unsafe deserialization vulnerability in IPC, Feather, and Parquet data readers. If immediate patching is not possible, restrict read operations on untrusted data sources and use the workaround of reading data with as_data_frame = FALSE followed by calling to_data_frame() to bypass the vulnerable code path.

sudo dnf update -y python3-pyarrow || sudo pip3 install --upgrade 'pyarrow>=17.0.0'

Defensia detects this vulnerability

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check installed Arrow/PyArrow version: python3 -c 'import pyarrow; print(pyarrow.__version__)'
  2. Identify data processing pipelines that read Parquet, Feather, or Arrow IPC files: grep -r 'read_parquet\|read_feather\|read_ipc' /path/to/application --include='*.py'
  3. Review application logs for unexpected process execution or system calls immediately following file read operations, particularly from untrusted input directories
  4. Confirm the patched version is active: python3 -c 'import pyarrow; assert tuple(map(int, pyarrow.__version__.split(".")[:2])) >= (17, 0), "Vulnerable version detected"'

FAQ

What is CVE-2024-52338?

CVE-2024-52338 is a critical deserialization flaw in Apache Arrow's R package (versions 4.0.0–16.1.0) that allows remote code execution when reading untrusted Parquet, Feather, or Arrow IPC files. The vulnerability stems from unsafe deserialization practices that permit arbitrary Python code execution during the data loading process.

Is CVE-2024-52338 being actively exploited?

No active exploits in the wild have been reported. However, the critical CVSS 9.8 score and ease of exploitation via file uploads or network data sources warrant immediate patching.

What versions of Apache Arrow are affected by CVE-2024-52338?

The Arrow R package versions 4.0.0 through 16.1.0 are vulnerable. Version 17.0.0 and later contain the fix. Note that other Arrow language bindings are not affected unless they depend on the vulnerable R package.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-52338?

Run python3 -c 'import pyarrow; print(pyarrow.__version__)' and compare the version against 17.0.0; any version below 17.0.0 is vulnerable if your application reads untrusted data files.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-52338?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If PyArrow or the Arrow R package is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-52338 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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