Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem read access via symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: false
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Passive
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-61 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Copier is a library and CLI app for rendering project templates. Prior to version 9.11.2, Copier suggests that it's safe to generate a project from a safe template, i.e. one that doesn't use unsafe features like custom Jinja extensions which would require passing the `--UNSAFE,--trust` flag. As it turns out, a safe template can currently include arbitrary files/directories outside the local template clone location by using symlinks along with `_preserve_symlinks: false` (which is Copier's default setting). Version 9.11.2 patches the issue.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| copier-org | copier | before 9.11.2 | 9.11.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | copier (PyPI) | before 9.11.2 | 9.11.2 | Patch available | GHSA-xjhm-gp88-8pfx |
- copier Vendorcopier-org Affected before 9.11.2 Fixed in 9.11.2 Patch available CNA
- copier (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 9.11.2 Fixed in 9.11.2 Patch available GHSA-xjhm-gp88-8pfx
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:copier-org:copier:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:* | before 9.11.2 | Vulnerable | copier-org |
- cpe:2.3:a:copier-org:copier:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:* Versions before 9.11.2 Vulnerable ·copier-org
Remediation
- Fix · CNA copier (copier-org) Fixed in 9.11.2
- Fix · GHSA-xjhm-gp88-8pfx copier (PyPI) Fixed in 9.11.2 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-23968
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xjhm-gp88-8pfx
References
More copier-org Copier vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-26974 Copier `_external_data` allows path traversal and absolute-path local file read without unsafe mode CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2026-26970 Copier `_subdirectory` allows template root escape via parent-directory traversal CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.4
- TI-2026-19328 Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem write access via directory symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: true CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
Sources
- CVE-2026-23968 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-23968 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xjhm-gp88-8pfx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences