Python Packaging Authority pip up to 25.x Wheel Archive path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Python Packaging Authority pip up to 25.x. This impacts an unknown function of the component Wheel Archive Handler. Performing a manipulation results in path traversal. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2026-1703. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Python Packaging Authority pip up to 25.x. This affects some unknown functionality of the component Wheel Archive Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

When pip is installing and extracting a maliciously crafted wheel archive, files may be extracted outside the installation directory. The path traversal is limited to prefixes of the installation directory, thus isn't able to inject or overwrite executable files in typical situations.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-1703 since 01/30/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1006 for this issue.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 298602 (SUSE SLES12 Security Update : python-pip (SUSE-SU-2026:0420-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 26.0 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8e227a9be4faa9594e05d02ca05a413a2a4e7735 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (298602) and EUVD (EUVD-2026-5106). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Language Software

Vendor

• Python Packaging Authority

Name

• pip

Version

• 25.x

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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