CVE-2022-21699Public exploit

Cross-user code execution via CWD startup files

Published Jan 19, 2022 · Updated Apr 22, 2025

Code execution in affected IPython releases allows local users to run code as another user via crafted startup files in the working directory. ProfileDir.find_profile_dir_by_name searched the current working directory before the configured IPython directory, so IPython loaded profile_default startup files from an attacker-writable location. A local user must prepopulate a shared directory that a different user enters before starting IPython, causing the planted Python file to execute with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in affected IPython releases allows local users to run code as another user via crafted startup files in the working directory. ProfileDir.find_profile_dir_by_name searched the current working directory before the configured IPython directory, so IPython loaded profile_default startup files from an attacker-writable location. A local user must prepopulate a shared directory that a different user enters before starting IPython, causing the planted Python file to execute with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-21699
Published
Jan 19, 2022
Updated
Apr 22, 2025
Vendor
IPython
Product
IPython
Classifications
CWE-250, CWE-279, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 5.11
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 6.0.0, < 7.16.3
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 7.17.0, < 7.31.1
  4. Affected versionversion=>= 8.0.0, < 8.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IPython · IPythonversion=< 5.11; version=>= 6.0.0, < 7.16.3; version=>= 7.17.0, < 7.31.1; version=>= 8.0.0, < 8.0.1

Published CVSS scores

8.2GitHub CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-250Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
CWE-279Incorrect Execution-Assigned Permissions
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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