CVE-2026-11940: tarfile.extractall() Hardlink-Symlink Bypass in CPython <3.15.0
CVE-2026-11940 Published on June 23, 2026
tarfile extraction filter bypass allows escaping the destination directory
tarfile.extractall() with the 'data' or 'tar'
filter could be bypassed by a crafted archive where a hardlink
references a symlink stored at a deeper name than the hardlink itself.
The extraction fallback validated the symlink at it's archived location
but recreated it at the hardlink's shallower
path, letting a relative
target the filter judged contained escape the destination directory.
This allowed a malicious tar archive to create a symlink pointing
outside the destination, enabling out-of-destination file reads or
writes. This was an incomplete fix of CVE-2025-4330.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-11940 is exploitable with network access, and does not require authorization privileges or user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have no impact on confidentiality and integrity and availability.
Weakness Types
What is a Directory traversal Vulnerability?
The software uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the software does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
CVE-2026-11940 has been classified to as a Directory traversal vulnerability or weakness.
What is an insecure temporary file Vulnerability?
The software attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
CVE-2026-11940 has been classified to as an insecure temporary file vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-11940
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Affected Versions
Python Software Foundation CPython:- Before 3.15.0b4 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.