5.3
MEDIUM CVSS 4.0
CVE-2026-115791
Prevent shadowing stdlib in gzip/tarfile/zipfile CLI during extraction
Description

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.

INFO

Published Date :

Nov. 10, 2026, 5:17 p.m.

Last Modified :

Nov. 10, 2026, 6:17 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

No
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-115791 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Python python
2 Python cpython
1 Python_software_foundation cpython
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
CVSS 4.0 MEDIUM 28c92f92-d60d-412d-b760-e73465c3df22
CVSS 4.0 MEDIUM [email protected]
Solution
Update Python's tarfile, zipfile, and gzip modules to prevent script shadowing.
  • Update Python's standard library modules.
  • Ensure current directory is not added to sys.path.
  • Review module import mechanisms.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2026-115791.

URL Resource
https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/161705
https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/161706
https://mail.python.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/ZKKA4Q7B35JEHSDIJNZ6TYKRDQJUHDAG/
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-115791 is associated with the following CWEs:

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2026-115791 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-115791 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    Nov. 10, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CWE CWE-829
    Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-115791', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'total'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-11-10T17:24:59.223694Z'}
  • New CVE Received by [email protected]

    Nov. 10, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Description 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.
    Added CVSS V4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
    Added Affected New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/115xxx/CVE-2026-115791.json">CVE-2026-115791</a>
    Added Reference https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/161705
    Added Reference https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/161706
    Added Reference https://mail.python.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/ZKKA4Q7B35JEHSDIJNZ6TYKRDQJUHDAG/
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.