CVE-2023-6597Public exploit

Local permission modification via symlink cleanup

Published Mar 19, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Improper symlink handling in affected CPython releases allows local users to alter permissions on files targeted by crafted links. TemporaryDirectory._rmtree handles a PermissionError by calling chmod or chflags on a cleanup path without disabling symlink following, causing the operation to reach the link target. Exploitation requires a privileged program to clean an attacker-influenced temporary directory, and the consequence is limited to permission or file-flag changes on linked files.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper symlink handling in affected CPython releases allows local users to alter permissions on files targeted by crafted links. TemporaryDirectory._rmtree handles a PermissionError by calling chmod or chflags on a cleanup path without disabling symlink following, causing the operation to reach the link target. Exploitation requires a privileged program to clean an attacker-influenced temporary directory, and the consequence is limited to permission or file-flag changes on linked files.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-6597
Published
Mar 19, 2024
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
Python Software Foundation
Product
CPython
Classifications
T1222.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 19, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <3.8.19
  2. Affected versionversion=3.10.0 <3.10.14
  3. Affected versionversion=3.11.0 <3.11.8
  4. Affected versionversion=3.12.0 <3.12.1
  5. Affected versionversion=3.13.0a1 <3.13.0a3
  6. Affected versionversion=3.9.0 <3.9.19

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Python Software Foundation · CPythonversion=0 <3.8.19; version=3.10.0 <3.10.14; version=3.11.0 <3.11.8; version=3.12.0 <3.12.1; version=3.13.0a1 <3.13.0a3; version=3.9.0 <3.9.19

Published CVSS scores

7.8Python Software FoundationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1222.002Linux and Mac File and Directory Permissions Modification

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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