CVE-2013-1888: Pip Improper Link Resolution Before File Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-4gv5-qhvr-36vv
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CVSS 6.2
CWE-59
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-1888 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.2) improper link resolution before file vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting Pip libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves improper link resolution before file access in pip. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.3.

CVE-2013-1888 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-1888
GHSA Identifier GHSA-4gv5-qhvr-36vv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.2
CWE Classification CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Affected Product Pip
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.2

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2013-1888

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Pip dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

pip fixed: 1.3 
pip install pip>=1.3
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show pip

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2013-1888, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show pip

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Pip in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.3), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show pip command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'), where the product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. In Pip, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

pip before 1.3 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a file in the /tmp/pip-build temporary directory.

CVE-2013-1888 Affected Pip Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
pip
pypi/pip
PyPI
< 1.3
1.3

References

NVD — CVE-2013-1888 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1888
Pip Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/pip/issues/725
Pip Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/pip/pull/734/files
Pip Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/pip/pull/780/files
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4gv5-qhvr-36vv
Pip Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/pip/PYSEC-2013-9.yaml
Pip Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/pip
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105952.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105989.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/106311.html
Pip Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/03/22/10

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-1888?
CVE-2013-1888 is a security vulnerability in Pip involving Improper Link Resolution Before File Access in pip under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
Which Pip versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.3 across affected packages: pip.
What version fixes CVE-2013-1888?
Upgrading to 1.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is pip affected?
Yes, pip is affected in releases prior to 1.3. Upgrade your dependency to 1.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2013-1888?
CVE-2013-1888 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.2 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-1888?
CVE-2013-1888 is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') (The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2013-1888?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show pip'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-4gv5-qhvr-36vv",
  "modified" : "2024-10-11T20:48:21Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:11:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-1888" ],
  "summary" : "Improper Link Resolution Before File Access in pip",
  "details" : "pip before 1.3 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a file in the /tmp/pip-build temporary directory.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "pip"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1888"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/pip/issues/725"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/pip/pull/734/files"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/pip/pull/780/files"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4gv5-qhvr-36vv"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/pip/PYSEC-2013-9.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/pip"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105952.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105989.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/106311.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/03/22/10"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-59" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-08T19:05:45Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-08-17T06:54:00Z"
  }
}