# CVE-2013-1888: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access in pip

> Local attackers can overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attacks in pip's temporary build directory, potentially compromising system integrity.

- **Severity:** Low 2.1 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Aug 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4gv5-qhvr-36vv, PYSEC-2013-9

## What is CVE-2013-1888?

CVE-2013-1888 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 16 Aug 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-1888?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including pip. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `pip` | PyPI | All versions | 1.3 |
| `pip` | PyPI | All versions | 1.3 |
| `pip` | PyPI | All versions | 1.3 |

Products: Fedoraproject Fedora, Pypa Pip.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-1888?

Upgrade pip to 1.3 or later.

## Is CVE-2013-1888 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-1888 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fedoraproject Fedora

- [CVE-2024-4577](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4577/): PHP-CGI OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-39226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39226/): Grafana Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-5544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5544/): VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS OpenSLP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4947](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4947/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4671/): Google Chromium Visuals Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-1888 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-1888 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 16 Aug 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-1888 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- pip (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.3
- pip (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.3
- pip (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.3

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1888/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1888/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-1888
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1888
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-1888

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1888/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.