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TI-2026-38909 Aliases CVE-2026-53940

Conda: Entry-point path traversal in noarch:python install (arbitrary file write) — canonical Python implementation

Priority HIGH 73CWE-22Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

Conda is a system-level binary package and environment manager that runs on major operating systems and platforms. Prior to 26.5.2, parse_entry_point_def in conda/common/path/python.py accepted an unvalidated entry-point command from a noarch:python package's info/link.json metadata. CreatePythonEntryPointAction in conda/core/path_actions.py interpolated that command into target_short_path, and PrefixPathAction.target_full_path joined it to the installation prefix without verifying that the result remained under the intended bin or Scripts directory. create_python_entry_point in conda/gateways/disk/create.py then wrote an executable wrapper to the resulting path. A malicious package could use path separators, traversal segments, or an absolute command path to write outside the prefix or overwrite another in-prefix entry point during default install and environment transactions. Out-of-prefix writes require the target parent directory to exist, while an overwritten entry point can execute attacker-controlled Python when later invoked with the installing user's privileges. This issue is fixed in version 26.5.2.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00546 46th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed conda (conda): 26.5.2

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
condacondabefore 26.5.226.5.2Patch availableCNA
  • conda Vendorconda Affected before 26.5.2 Fixed in 26.5.2 Patch available CNA

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA conda (conda) Fixed in 26.5.2

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53940

References

  • TI-2025-23835 Conda-build Allows Arbitrary Code Execution via Malicious Recipe Selectors CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.2
  • TI-2025-23836 Conda-build Vulnerable to Path Traversal via Malicious Tar File CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.6
  • TI-2026-79928 Pwn request in Conda infrastructure workflow exposes SYNC_TOKEN CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2025-39776 (conda) Constructor: Excessive permissions during and after installation CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2025-23837 Conda-build vulnerable to supply chain attack vector due to pyproject.toml referring to dependencies not present in PyPI CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.2
  • TI-2024-30877 Miniconda3 macOS installers before 23.11.0-1 contain a local privilege escalation… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
See all 11 →

Sources