# CVE-2019-12408: Missing Initialization of Resource in Apache Arrow

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-12408-missing-initialization-of-resource-in-apache-arrow  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2019-11-08  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2019-12408 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2019-11-08

It was discovered that the C++ implementation (which underlies the R, Python and Ruby implementations) of Apache Arrow 0.14.0 to 0.14.1 had a uninitialized memory bug when building arrays with null values in some cases. This can lead to uninitialized memory being unintentionally shared if Arrow Arrays are transmitted over the wire (for instance with Flight) or persisted in the streaming IPC and file formats.

Technologies: [pyarrow (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pyarrow). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi), [RubyGems](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rubygems).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2019-12408 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2019-12408 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2019-12408?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 8 November 2019.

**Which products and versions are affected?** pyarrow (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.14.0,fixed=0.15.0; red-arrow (RubyGems) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.14.0,fixed=0.15.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2019-12408?** Yes. pyarrow (PyPI): upgrade to 0.15.0 or later; red-arrow (RubyGems): upgrade to 0.15.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2019-12408?** Check whether you run pyarrow (PyPI) or red-arrow (RubyGems) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- pyarrow (PyPI): upgrade to 0.15.0 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "pyarrow>=0.15.0"
  ```

- red-arrow (RubyGems): upgrade to 0.15.1 or later

  ```sh
  bundle update red-arrow
  ```


## Affected products

- pyarrow (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.14.0,fixed=0.15.0
- red-arrow (RubyGems) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.14.0,fixed=0.15.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2019-12408
- GHSA-8cw2-jv5c-c825
- PYSEC-2019-195

## Related threats

- [Apache Arrow C++ use-after-free in IPC file reader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-25087-apache-arrow-c-use-after-free-in-ipc-file-reader)
- [PYSEC-2024-161 - Deserialization of untrusted data in IPC and Parquet readers in the Apache Arrow R package versions…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-52338-pysec-2024-161-deserialization-of-untrusted-data-in-ipc-and)
- [PyArrow: Arbitrary code execution when loading a malicious data file](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-47248-pyarrow-arbitrary-code-execution-when-loading-a-malicious-data)
- [Missing Initialization of Resource in Apache Arrow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-12410-missing-initialization-of-resource-in-apache-arrow)