Summary
Black: Arbitrary file writes from unsanitized user input in cache file name
Workarounds
Do not allow untrusted user input into the value of the --python-cell-magics option.
Impact
Black writes a cache file, the name of which is computed from various formatting options. The value of the --python-cell-magics option was placed in the filename without sanitization, which allowed an attacker who controls the value of this argument to write cache files to arbitrary file system locations.
Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files. Typical impact: unauthorized file read or write outside the intended directory.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Fixed in Black 26.3.1.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-32274? CVE-2026-32274 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in black (pip), affecting versions < 26.3.1. It is fixed in 26.3.1. Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files.
- Which versions of black are affected by CVE-2026-32274? black (pip) versions < 26.3.1 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-32274? Yes. CVE-2026-32274 is fixed in 26.3.1. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-32274 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-32274 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-32274 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-32274? Upgrade
blackto 26.3.1 or later.