Black: Arbitrary file writes from unsanitized user input in cache file name

Description

Impact

Black writes a cache file, the name of which is computed from various formatting options. The value of the --python-cell-magics option was placed in the filename without sanitization, which allowed an attacker who controls the value of this argument to write cache files to arbitrary file system locations.

Patches

Fixed in Black 26.3.1.

Workarounds

Do not allow untrusted user input into the value of the --python-cell-magics option.

Basic information

Type
reviewed
Severity
high
Advisory on GitHub
Open advisory ↗
Repository advisory
Open repository advisory ↗
Source code
Browse source ↗
Published (advisory)
2026-03-12 18:33:10 UTC
Updated
2026-03-13 13:36:21 UTC
GitHub reviewed
2026-03-12 18:33:10 UTC
NVD published
2026-03-12

EPSS Score

Score Percentile
0.02% 5.65%

CVSS Scores

Base score Version Severity Vector
8.7 4.0
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Exploitation conditions are straightforward and stable.
Attack requirements (AT:N)
No additional preconditions are required beyond normal reachability.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No privileges are required.
User interaction (UI:N)
No user interaction is required.
Vulnerable system confidentiality impact (VC:N)
No confidentiality impact on the vulnerable system.
Vulnerable system integrity impact (VI:H)
High integrity impact on the vulnerable system.
Vulnerable system availability impact (VA:N)
No availability impact on the vulnerable system.
Subsequent system confidentiality impact (SC:N)
No confidentiality impact on subsequent systems.
Subsequent system integrity impact (SI:N)
No integrity impact on subsequent systems.
Subsequent system availability impact (SA:N)
No availability impact on subsequent systems.

Identifiers

CWEs

CWE id Name
CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Credits

  • fg0x0 (reporter)

Affected packages (1)

Vulnerable version ranges and first patched releases as published by GitHub.

Ecosystem Package Vulnerable range First patched Vulnerable functions
pip black < 26.3.1 26.3.1

References

cvelogic Threat Intelligence