pip's fallback tar extraction doesn't check symbolic links point to extraction directory
When extracting a tar archive pip may not check symbolic links point into the extraction directory if the tarfile module doesn't implement PEP 706. Note that upgrading pip to a "fixed" version for this vulnerability doesn't fix all known vulnerabilities that are remediated by using a Python version that implements PEP 706. Note that this is a vulnerability in pip's fallback implementation of tar extraction for Python versions that don't implement PEP 706 and therefore are not secure to all vulnerabilities in the Python 'tarfile' module. If you're using a Python version that implements PEP 706 then pip doesn't use the "vulnerable" fallback code. Mitigations include upgrading to a version of pip that includes the fix, upgrading to a Python version that implements PEP 706 (Python >=3.9.17, >=3.10.12, >=3.11.4, or >=3.12), applying the linked patch, or inspecting source distributions (sdists) before installation as is already a best-practice.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | pip | < 25.3 | 25.3 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-8869
- https://github.com/pypa/pip/pull/13550
- https://github.com/pypa/pip/commit/f2b92314da012b9fffa36b3f3e67748a37ef464a
- https://github.com/pypa/pip
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00028.html
- https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/IF5A3GCJY3VH7BVHJKOWOJFKTW7VFQEN
- https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/news/#v25-2
- https://pypi.org/project/pip
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4xh5-x5gv-qwph
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-59- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
pip- Disclosed
- 24.09.2025
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-1795 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-4xh5-x5gv-qwph - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: pip
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 13
- First → latest
- 08.2013 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 4
- Medium 8
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2017: 0
- 2018: 0
- 2019: 1
- 2020: 1
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 0
- 2023: 1
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 5
earlier: 3
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