---
title: "CVE-2026-22701\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-22701?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2026-22701

Publication date 10 January 2026

Last updated 4 February 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.3 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-22701?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

filelock is a platform-independent file lock for Python. Prior to version
3.20.3, a TOCTOU race condition vulnerability exists in the SoftFileLock
implementation of the filelock package. An attacker with local filesystem
access and permission to create symlinks can exploit a race condition
between the permission validation and file creation to cause lock
operations to fail or behave unexpectedly. The vulnerability occurs in the
\_acquire() method between raise\_on\_not\_writable\_file() (permission check)
and os.open() (file creation). During this race window, an attacker can
create a symlink at the lock file path, potentially causing the lock to
operate on an unintended target file or leading to denial of service. This
issue has been patched in version 3.20.3.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| python-filelock | 26.04 LTS resolute | Needs evaluation |
| 25.10 questing | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 25.04 plucky | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Fixed 3.13.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Fixed 3.6.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 3.0.12-2ubuntu0.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 3.0.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

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## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.3 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | High |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | None |
  | Integrity impact | Low |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.3 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2026-22701)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22701)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2026-22701)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-22701)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-7999-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-7999-1)
+ Filelock vulnerabilities
+ 2 February 2026

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-22701>
* <https://github.com/tox-dev/filelock/security/advisories/GHSA-qmgc-5h2g-mvrw>
* <https://github.com/tox-dev/filelock/commit/255ed068bc85d1ef406e50a135e1459170dd1bf0>
* <https://github.com/tox-dev/filelock/commit/41b42dd2c72aecf7da83dbda5903b8087dddc4d5>