Vulnerability in wheel Command Line Tool Allows File Permission Modifications
CVE-2026-24049

7.1HIGH

Key Information:

Vendor

Pypa

Status
Wheel
Vendor
CVE Published:
22 January 2026

What is CVE-2026-24049?

The wheel command line tool, used for handling Python wheel files, contains a vulnerability that permits unauthorized modification of file permissions during the extraction process. The issue arises from the implementation of the unpack function, which in versions 0.46.1 and below, inadequately verifies file permissions. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious wheel files that manipulate permissions of critical system files, such as /etc/passwd and SSH keys, enabling privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability has been addressed in version 0.46.2.

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Affected Version(s)

wheel >= 0.40.0, < 0.46.2

References

https://github.com/pypa/wheel/security/advisories/GHSA-8r...
x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/pypa/wheel/commit/7a7d2de96b22a9adf920...
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/pypa/wheel/releases/tag/0.46.2
x_refsource_MISC

CVSS V3.1

Score:
7.1
Severity:
HIGH
Confidentiality:
None
Integrity:
High
Availability:
None
Attack Vector:
Local
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
None
User Interaction:
Required
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

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