CVE-2026-25645

Requests has Insecure Temp File Reuse in its extract_zipped_paths() utility function

Published Mar 25, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.4 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Requests is a HTTP library. Prior to version 2.33.0, the `requests.utils.extract_zipped_paths()` utility function uses a predictable filename when extracting files from zip archives into the system temporary directory. If the target file already exists, it is reused without validation. A local attacker with write access to the temp directory could pre-create a malicious file that would be loaded in place of the legitimate one. Standard usage of the Requests library is not affected by this vulnerability. Only applications that call `extract_zipped_paths()` directly are impacted. Starting in version 2.33.0, the library extracts files to a non-deterministic location. If developers are unable to upgrade, they can set `TMPDIR` in their environment to a directory with restricted write access.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-gc5v-m9x4-r6x2 Requests has Insecure Temp File Reuse in its extract_zipped_paths() utility function
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8825-1 Requests vulnerability
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Python
Python requests
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:python:requests:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Python
Python requests
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Psf
Psf psf-requests
Vendors & Products Psf
Psf psf-requests
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Requests is a HTTP library. Prior to version 2.33.0, the function `requests.utils.extract_zipped_paths()` (which is used by `HTTPAdapter.cert_verify()` to load the CA bundle, often from the `certifi` package's zipapp structure) uses a predictable, non-unique filename (the basename of the file, e.g., `cacert.pem`) when attempting to extract files into the system's temporary directory (`/tmp`). The vulnerable logic performs a check to see if the target file already exists in `/tmp` and re-uses the existing file if found, instead of securely checking the file's content or ensuring atomic, unique extraction. This allows a Local Attacker to pre-create a malicious CA bundle file (e.g., `/tmp/cacert.pem`) before a vulnerable application (running with potentially higher privileges) initializes the `requests` library. Version 2.33.0 contains a patch. Requests is a HTTP library. Prior to version 2.33.0, the `requests.utils.extract_zipped_paths()` utility function uses a predictable filename when extracting files from zip archives into the system temporary directory. If the target file already exists, it is reused without validation. A local attacker with write access to the temp directory could pre-create a malicious file that would be loaded in place of the legitimate one. Standard usage of the Requests library is not affected by this vulnerability. Only applications that call `extract_zipped_paths()` directly are impacted. Starting in version 2.33.0, the library extracts files to a non-deterministic location. If developers are unable to upgrade, they can set `TMPDIR` in their environment to a directory with restricted write access.
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 Requests is a HTTP library. Prior to version 2.33.0, the function `requests.utils.extract_zipped_paths()` (which is used by `HTTPAdapter.cert_verify()` to load the CA bundle, often from the `certifi` package's zipapp structure) uses a predictable, non-unique filename (the basename of the file, e.g., `cacert.pem`) when attempting to extract files into the system's temporary directory (`/tmp`). The vulnerable logic performs a check to see if the target file already exists in `/tmp` and re-uses the existing file if found, instead of securely checking the file's content or ensuring atomic, unique extraction. This allows a Local Attacker to pre-create a malicious CA bundle file (e.g., `/tmp/cacert.pem`) before a vulnerable application (running with potentially higher privileges) initializes the `requests` library. Version 2.33.0 contains a patch.
Title Requests has Insecure Temp File Reuse in its extract_zipped_paths() utility function
Weaknesses CWE-377
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Mar 25, 2026, 10:48 PM
Reserved
Feb 4, 2026, 5:15 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Mar 25, 2026, 5:16 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 10:25 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Mar 25, 2026, 5:02 PM