Python up to 3.15.x Command Line Interface code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Python up to 3.15.x. It has been rated as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the component Command Line Interface. Performing a manipulation results in code injection. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-115791. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Python up to 3.15.x. This affects an unknown function of the component Command Line Interface. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

When tarfile or zipfile command line interface (CLI) is used to decompress an archive, a Python script shadowing the stdlib can be created. Then if an error occurs during decompressing the next file, the newly created Python script is executed. This is especially true if the created Python is called traceback.py. The problem is that Python adds the current directory to sys.path when python -m MODULE is run, and the archive is also decompressed in the current directory. The fix removes sys.path[0] in gzip, tarfile and zipfile command line interface to prevent shadowing standard library modules from extracted files.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-115791 since 10/23/2026. 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. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1059 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 3.16.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Language Software

Name

• Python

Version

• 3.0
• 3.1
• 3.2
• 3.3
• 3.4
• 3.5
• 3.6
• 3.7
• 3.8
• 3.9
• 3.10
• 3.11
• 3.12
• 3.13
• 3.14
• 3.15

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion