CVE-2026-23986Public exploit

Arbitrary file overwrite via preserved directory symlinks

Published Jan 21, 2026 · Updated Jan 21, 2026

Symlink following in Copier before 9.11.2 allows context-dependent attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a malicious template. When _preserve_symlinks is true, _render_template creates a directory symlink and then writes a rendered child path through it without confirming that the resolved destination remains under the output directory. The victim must render the template, success depends on os.scandir entry order, and writes are limited to files permitted by the victim's account.

CVSS severity6.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in Copier before 9.11.2 allows context-dependent attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a malicious template. When _preserve_symlinks is true, _render_template creates a directory symlink and then writes a rendered child path through it without confirming that the resolved destination remains under the output directory. The victim must render the template, success depends on os.scandir entry order, and writes are limited to files permitted by the victim's account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23986
Published
Jan 21, 2026
Updated
Jan 21, 2026
Vendor
copier-org
Product
Copier
Classifications
CWE-61, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 21, 2026Record 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=< 9.11.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

copier-org · Copierversion=< 9.11.2

Published CVSS scores

6.9GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/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.

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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

CWE-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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