CVE-2026-88968

Claude Code: TOCTOU Race in Edit Tool Allows File Writes Outside the Workspace

Published Nov 3, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 7.7 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Claude Code is an agentic coding tool. Prior to 2.1.251, the Edit tool validates a target using pathname and symlink resolution that is not bound to the underlying directory inode or file descriptor. On macOS, attacker-controlled code running in the Bash sandbox can atomically replace an in-workspace parent directory with a symlink after validation, causing the unsandboxed Edit implementation to overwrite a user-writable file outside the workspace. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled code to run inside the sandbox, such as from a malicious repository or dependency script. This issue is fixed in version 2.1.251.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-5xjx-9qx6-jcrv Claude Code: TOCTOU Race in Edit Tool Allows File Writes Outside the Workspace
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Anthropics
Anthropics claude Code
Vendors & Products Anthropics
Anthropics claude Code
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Claude Code is an agentic coding tool. Prior to 2.1.251, the Edit tool validates a target using pathname and symlink resolution that is not bound to the underlying directory inode or file descriptor. On macOS, attacker-controlled code running in the Bash sandbox can atomically replace an in-workspace parent directory with a symlink after validation, causing the unsandboxed Edit implementation to overwrite a user-writable file outside the workspace. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled code to run inside the sandbox, such as from a malicious repository or dependency script. This issue is fixed in version 2.1.251.
Title Claude Code: TOCTOU Race in Edit Tool Allows File Writes Outside the Workspace
Weaknesses CWE-367
CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Nov 3, 2026, 9:29 PM
Reserved
Sep 10, 2026, 4:02 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Nov 3, 2026, 8:18 PM
Modified
Nov 3, 2026, 10:19 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Nov 3, 2026, 8:08 PM