CVE-2026-23986

Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem write access via directory symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: true

HIGH
7.1
CVSS Score
Published: January 21, 2026 at 10:20 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 10:22 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorCopier

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Severity
HIGH7.1
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.3%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

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 write to arbitrary directories outside the destination path by using directory a symlink along with `_preserve_symlinks: true` and a generated directory structure whose rendered path is inside the symlinked directory. This way, a malicious template author can create a template that overwrites arbitrary files (according to the user's write permissions), e.g., to cause havoc. Version 9.11.2 patches the issue.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 9.11.2
Affected range stops below 9.11.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (3)

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitThird Party Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/copier-org/copier/security/advisories/GHSA-4fqp-r85r-hxqh
x_refsource_MISCProductRelease Notes
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/copier-org/copier/releases/tag/v9.11.2

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-61

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