CVE-2025-8869: Fallback tar extraction in pip doesn't check symbolic links point to extraction directory

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-8869 is a medium (CVSS 5.9) vulnerability in python packaging authority pip. EPSS estimates a 0.49% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 42.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 24-09-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 03-11-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

When extracting a tar archive pip may not check symbolic links point into the extraction directory if the tarfile module doesn't implement PEP 706. Note that upgrading pip to a "fixed" version for this vulnerability doesn't fix all known vulnerabilities that are remediated by using a Python version that implements PEP 706. Note that this is a vulnerability in pip's fallback implementation of tar extraction for Python versions that don't implement PEP 706 and therefore are not secure to all vulnerabilities in the Python 'tarfile' module. If you're using a Python version that implements PEP 706 then pip doesn't use the "vulnerable" fallback code. Mitigations include upgrading to a version of pip that includes the fix, upgrading to a Python version that implements PEP 706 (Python >=3.9.17, >=3.10.12, >=3.11.4, or >=3.12), applying the linked patch, or inspecting source distributions (sdists) before installation as is already a best-practice.

No weakness data has been published for this record.