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UK Cyber Defence
VulnerabilityAwaiting Analysis

CVE-2026-82331

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') vulnerability in the `tar` source plugin of Apache BuildStream running on Python < 3.12 allows malicious source tarballs to write files on the host, with the privileges of the user running…

CRITICAL 9.8EPSS 0.41%

Does this matter?

High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.41%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.

Description

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') vulnerability in the `tar` source plugin of Apache BuildStream running on Python < 3.12 allows malicious source tarballs to write files on the host, with the privileges of the user running BuildStream, via symlinks as part of source fetching. The impact of this issue is mitigated by: * BuildStream projects should only use trusted sources in their elements as otherwise the build output can also not be trusted * Tracking a source tarball pins its SHA256 hash, which prevents MITM attacks of users that are fetching an already tracked project * When running on Python >= 3.12, BuildStream >= 2.3.0 already makes use of the Python `tarfile` filter functionality, which blocks the symlink escape Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.8.1, which fixes this issue.

CVSS 3.1
9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS
0.41% probability · 35th percentile
Public exploits
None in Exploit-DB
CISA KEV
Not listed
Weakness
CWE-59
Source
security@apache.org
EPSS trend
0%3%5%23 September 2026: 0.19%26 October 2026: 0.41%23 September 202626 October 2026

EPSS moved from 0.2% on 23 September 2026 to 0.4% on 26 October 2026.

Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.