Poetry Argument Injection vulnerability can lead to local Code Execution
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-94.
Summary
Poetry is a dependency manager for Python. When handling dependencies that come from a Git repository instead of a registry, Poetry uses various commands, such as `git clone`. These commands are constructed using user input (e.g. the repository URL). When building the commands, Poetry correctly avoids Command Injection vulnerabilities by passing an array of arguments instead of a command string. However, there is the possibility that a user input starts with a dash (`-`) and is therefore treated as an optional argument instead of a positional one. This can lead to Code Execution because some of the commands have options that can be leveraged to run arbitrary executables. If a developer is exploited, the attacker could steal credentials or persist their access. If the exploit happens on a server, the attackers could use their access to attack other internal systems. Since this vulnerability requires a fair amount of user interaction, it is not as dangerous as a remotely exploitable one. However, it still puts developers at risk when dealing with untrusted files in a way they think is safe, because the exploit still works when the victim tries to make sure nothing can happen, e.g. by vetting any Git or Poetry config files that might be present in the directory. Versions 1.1.9 and 1.2.0b1 contain patches for this issue.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| python-poetry | poetry | before 1.1.9 | 1.1.9 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | poetry (PyPI) | before 1.1.9 | 1.1.9 | Patch available | GHSA-9xgj-fcgf-x6mw |
- poetry Vendorpython-poetry Affected before 1.1.9 Fixed in 1.1.9 Patch available CNA
- poetry (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 1.1.9 Fixed in 1.1.9 Patch available GHSA-9xgj-fcgf-x6mw
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:python-poetry:poetry:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:* | before 1.1.9 | Vulnerable | python-poetry |
| cpe:2.3:a:python-poetry:poetry:1.2.0:alpha1:*:*:*:python:*:* | 1.2.0 alpha1 | Vulnerable | python-poetry |
| cpe:2.3:a:python-poetry:poetry:1.2.0:alpha2:*:*:*:python:*:* | 1.2.0 alpha2 | Vulnerable | python-poetry |
- cpe:2.3:a:python-poetry:poetry:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:* Versions before 1.1.9 Vulnerable ·python-poetry
- cpe:2.3:a:python-poetry:poetry:1.2.0:alpha1:*:*:*:python:*:* Versions 1.2.0 alpha1 Vulnerable ·python-poetry
- cpe:2.3:a:python-poetry:poetry:1.2.0:alpha2:*:*:*:python:*:* Versions 1.2.0 alpha2 Vulnerable ·python-poetry
Remediation
- Fix · CNA poetry (python-poetry) Fixed in 1.1.9
- Fix · GHSA-9xgj-fcgf-x6mw poetry (PyPI) Fixed in 1.1.9 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-36069
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-9xgj-fcgf-x6mw
References
Other 6
- https://github.com/python-poetry/poetry/releases/tag/1.1.9
- https://github.com/python-poetry/poetry/releases/tag/1.2.0b1
- https://www.sonarsource.com/blog/securing-developer-tools-package-managers/
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/poetry/PYSEC-2022-266.yaml
- https://github.com/python-poetry/poetry
- https://www.sonarsource.com/blog/securing-developer-tools-package-managers
More python-poetry Poetry vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-26838 Poetry Has Wheel Path Traversal Which Can Lead to Arbitrary File Write CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
- TI-2022-09621 Poetry v1.1.9 and below was discovered to contain an untrusted search path which causes… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-16493 Poetry's Untrusted Search Path can lead to Local Code Execution on Windows CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.3
Sources
- CVE-2022-36069 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-36069 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-9xgj-fcgf-x6mw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2022-36069 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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