CVE-2023-6597: Python Software Foundation CPython · Vulnerability
Affects Python Software Foundation CPythonSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 06:26 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 23% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 19 Mar 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
PyPIcpythonpkg:pypi/cpythonOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
1. Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from the Python Software Foundation as soon as they become available to address CVE-2023-6597. 2. Until patches are applied, restrict the ability of untrusted users to execute privileged programs or scripts that utilize tempfile.TemporaryDirectory, especially in environments where symlinks can be created. 3. Implement strict filesystem permissions and policies to limit symlink creation and usage by non-administrative users. 4. Audit existing codebases and scripts for usage of tempfile.TemporaryDirectory in privileged contexts and refactor or add safeguards to prevent symlink dereferencing during cleanup. 5. Employ runtime monitoring to detect unusual permission changes or symlink manipulations on critical files. 6. Educate developers and system administrators about the risks of symlink dereferencing in privileged operations and encourage secure coding practices. 7. Use containerization or sandboxing to isolate processes that handle temporary directories to minimize potential damage from exploitation.
Description
An issue was found in the CPython `tempfile.TemporaryDirectory` class affecting versions 3.12.1, 3.11.7, 3.10.13, 3.9.18, and 3.8.18 and prior. The tempfile.TemporaryDirectory class would dereference symlinks during cleanup of permissions-related errors. This means users which can run privileged programs are potentially able to modify permissions of files referenced by symlinks in some circumstances.
References
- github.com/python/cpython/commit/81c16cd94ec38d61aa478b9a452436dc3b1b524d (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/python/cpython/commit/6ceb8aeda504b079fef7a57b8d81472f15cdd9a5 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/python/cpython/commit/5585334d772b253a01a6730e8202ffb1607c3d25 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/python/cpython/commit/8eaeefe49d179ca4908d052745e3bb8b6f238f82 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/python/cpython/commit/d54e22a669ae6e987199bb5d2c69bb5a46b0083b (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/python/cpython/commit/02a9259c717738dfe6b463c44d7e17f2b6d2cb3a (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/python/cpython/issues/91133 (opens in a new tab)
- mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/Q5C6ATFC67K53XFV4KE45325S7NS62LD/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/03/msg00025.html (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/20/5 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/T3IGRX54M7RNCQOXVQO5KQKTGWCOABIM/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U5VHWS52HGD743C47UMCSAK2A773M2YE/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/12/msg00000.html (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/11/msg00005.html (opens in a new tab)