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VulnerabilityPublished

CVE-2026-115791: Python Software Foundation CPython · Prevent shadowing stdlib in gzip/tarfile/zipfile CLI during extraction

Affects Python Software Foundation CPythonSource CVE Database V5

0
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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.3 Medium : upgrade to 3.16.0 when convenient.

Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 17:04 UTC

CVSS 4.0 base score
5.3Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Thin evidence

One scorer or none
CVSS scores by source
CNA (PSF)CVSS 4.05.3
Patch
Available – fixed in 3.16.0
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

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 10 Nov 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 10 Nov 2026.

What to do

Upgrade Python Software Foundation CPython to 3.16.0.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Python Software FoundationCPythonAffected
  • <3.16.0
Fixed in
  • 3.16.0
GitHubCPythonpkg:github/CPythonOther threatsAffected
  • <3.16.0
Fixed in
  • 3.16.0

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

Upgrade CPython to version 3.16.0 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed by removing sys.path[0] during decompression in the gzip, tarfile, and zipfile CLI tools. No other mitigations are specified or required once patched.

Description

CVE-2026-115791 is a vulnerability in the Python standard library command line interfaces for gzip, tarfile, and zipfile. When decompressing archives, a malicious Python script can be extracted that shadows standard library modules, such as traceback.py. If an error occurs during subsequent decompression, the malicious script may be executed due to Python adding the current directory to sys.path. This vulnerability affects CPython versions prior to 3.16.0 and is fixed in version 3.16.0 by removing sys.path[0] to prevent module shadowing.

References

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