CVE-2026-23968

Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem read access via symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: false

Published Jan 21, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 6.8 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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 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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-xjhm-gp88-8pfx Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem read access via symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: false
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:copier-org:copier:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Copier-org
Copier-org copier
Vendors & Products Copier-org
Copier-org copier
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
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 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.
Title Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem read access via symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: false
Weaknesses CWE-61
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jan 22, 2026, 4:49 PM
Reserved
Jan 19, 2026, 2:49 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jan 21, 2026, 11:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 10:22 AM