CVE-2022-35861

Privilege escalation via unvalidated shim path traversal

Published Jul 17, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in pyenv 1.2.24 through 2.3.2 allows local users to gain privileges through a crafted .python-version file. pyenv-version-file-read accepts relative version strings that pyenv uses to construct executable shim paths without validating the selected version. A local user who can place the file in a privileged user's working directory can redirect shim execution to attacker-controlled code.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in pyenv 1.2.24 through 2.3.2 allows local users to gain privileges through a crafted .python-version file. pyenv-version-file-read accepts relative version strings that pyenv uses to construct executable shim paths without validating the selected version. A local user who can place the file in a privileged user's working directory can redirect shim execution to attacker-controlled code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-35861
Published
Jul 17, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-22, CAPEC-126, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 17, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CAPEC-126Path Traversal
T1574Hijack Execution Flow

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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