pymatgen arbitrary code execution when parsing a maliciously crafted JonesFaithfulTransformation transformation_string

Vulnerability Description

Pymatgen (Python Materials Genomics) is an open-source Python library for materials analysis. A critical security vulnerability exists in the `JonesFaithfulTransformation.from_transformation_str()` method within the `pymatgen` library prior to version 2024.2.20. This method insecurely utilizes `eval()` for processing input, enabling execution of arbitrary code when parsing untrusted input. Version 2024.2.20 fixes this issue.

References

• https://github.com/materialsproject/pymatgen/security/advisories/GHSA-vgv8-5cpj-qj2f
• https://github.com/materialsproject/pymatgen/commit/c231cbd3d5147ee920a37b6ee9dd236b376bcf5a
• https://github.com/materialsproject/pymatgen/blob/master/pymatgen/symmetry/settings.py#L97C1-L111C108