CVE Watchtower

CVE-2026-115791Python Software Foundation CPython

NVD

Vulnerability Summary

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.
Severity Level
MEDIUM(5.3)
Published Date
Nov 10, 2026
Last Modified
Nov 11, 2026
Exploitation Status
No confirmed exploitation yet
EPSS Score (30-Day)
0.16%Probability
Root Weakness (CWE)
N/A
CVSS v4.0 Base Metrics — Score 5.3 (MEDIUM)
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Attack RequirementsPresent
Privileges RequiredLow
User InteractionActive
Confidentiality (Vulnerable System)High
Integrity (Vulnerable System)High
Availability (Vulnerable System)None
Confidentiality (Subsequent System)None
Integrity (Subsequent System)None
Availability (Subsequent System)None

Affected & Patched Versions

Affected Versions
  • Python Software Foundation CPython < 3.16.0
Patched Versions
  • Python Software Foundation CPython 3.16.0

What to do

Fix it during your normal patch cycle. No exploitation is confirmed yet.

  1. Check whether you run Python Software Foundation CPython and which version.
  2. Update to a patched version listed above, then confirm the new version.

Timeline

  • Nov 10, 2026Published
  • Nov 11, 2026Record last modified

Score, severity and exploitation changes are tracked from the day Watchtower started logging them.

Get notified about new Python Software Foundation CPython CVEsYou are reading CVE-2026-115791. Get an email when KEV listings, exploits or new CVEs match your stack.
Set up CVE alerts

Data last checked: Nov 14, 2026 02:13 UTC