# CVE-2026-53940: Conda: Entry-point path traversal in noarch:python install (arbitrary file write) — canonical Python implementation

> A malicious Conda package can write files outside the installation prefix or overwrite entry points, leading to arbitrary code execution during installation.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 21 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-103394, GHSA-9m8m-c4j3-rj2c

## What is CVE-2026-53940?

CVE-2026-53940 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in conda, published on 21 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Conda is a system-level binary package and environment manager that runs on major operating systems and platforms. Prior to 26.5.2, parse_entry_point_def in conda/common/path/python.py accepted an unvalidated entry-point command from a noarch:python package's info/link.json metadata. CreatePythonEntryPointAction in conda/core/path_actions.py interpolated that command into target_short_path, and PrefixPathAction.target_full_path joined it to the installation prefix without verifying that the result remained under the intended bin or Scripts directory. create_python_entry_point in conda/gateways/disk/create.py then wrote an executable wrapper to the resulting path. A malicious package could use path separators, traversal segments, or an absolute command path to write outside the prefix or overwrite another in-prefix entry point during default install and environment transactions. Out-of-prefix writes require the target parent directory to exist, while an overwritten entry point can execute attacker-controlled Python when later invoked with the installing user's privileges. This issue is fixed in version 26.5.2.

Weakness: CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path), CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53940?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-53940?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-53940 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-53940 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-53940 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-53940 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-53940 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in conda, published on 21 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-53940 exists.

Affected product: conda. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2026-53940/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53940/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53940
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53940
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-53940

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53940/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.