High · published January 22, 2026
⚡ A sneaky flaw in the wheel command-line tool could give attackers control over sensitive system files! 🚨 Think of it like a delivery driver who blindly trusts the address on a package, delivering it straight to a home without checking if the occupants are authorized. In this case, the unpack function in wheel is handing over permissions to files that should remain locked down! An attacker could craft a malicious wheel file that, when unpacked, alters the permissions of critical system files like /etc/passwd or SSH keys. This could lead to privilege escalation or even arbitrary code execution, turning your trusted environment into a playground for bad actors — absolutely devastating!
Think of it like a delivery driver who blindly trusts the address on a package, delivering it straight to a home without checking if the occupants are authorized. In this case, the unpack function in wheel is handing over permissions to files that should remain locked down! The vulnerability in versions 0.40.0 through 0.46.1 of the wheel tool allows for manipulation of file permissions due to mishandling in the unpack function, which trusts the filename from the archive header without proper validation.
An attacker could craft a malicious wheel file that, when unpacked, alters the permissions of critical system files like /etc/passwd or SSH keys. This could lead to privilege escalation or even arbitrary code execution, turning your trusted environment into a playground for bad actors — absolutely devastating! Update to wheel version 0.46.2 immediately to patch this vulnerability. Additionally, review and restrict file permissions and practices around the extraction of wheel files to ensure no unauthorized changes occur. You've got this! Stay vigilant and secure your systems like the heroes you are! 🦸♂️
| Product | Versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| wheel_project/wheel | ≥ 0.40.0, < 0.46.2 | 0.46.2 |