# CVE-2026-23986: PYSEC-2026-1272 - Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem write access via directory symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: true

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-23986-copier-safe-template-has-arbitrary-filesystem-write-access-via  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-07  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-23986 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2026-07-07

Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem write access via directory symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: true

Technologies: [copier (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-copier). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-23986 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-23986 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-23986?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 7 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** copier (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=9.11.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-23986?** Yes. copier (PyPI): upgrade to 9.11.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-23986?** Check whether you run copier (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- copier (PyPI): upgrade to 9.11.2 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "copier>=9.11.2"
  ```


## Affected products

- copier (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=9.11.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-23986
- GHSA-4fqp-r85r-hxqh
- PYSEC-2026-1272

## Related threats

- [Copier trust-prefix bypass via path traversal in trusted template URLs](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-53951-copier-trust-prefix-bypass-via-path-traversal-in-trusted-template)
- [PYSEC-2026-1274 - Copier safe template has arbitrary filesystem read access via symlinks when _preserve_symlinks: false](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-23968-copier-safe-template-has-arbitrary-filesystem-read-access-via)
- [PYSEC-2026-1273 - Copier's safe template has filesystem write access outside destination path](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-55214-copier-s-safe-template-has-filesystem-write-access-outside)
- [PYSEC-2026-1271 - Copier's safe template has arbitrary filesystem read/write access](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-55201-copier-s-safe-template-has-arbitrary-filesystem-read-write-access)
- [Copier path traversal and local file disclosure in _external_data](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-34730-copier-path-traversal-and-local-file-disclosure-in-external-data)