CVE-2026-28684 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2026-28684
Vulnerability Scoring

6.6
/10
High Risk

If left unpatched, CVE-2026-28684 could lead to major system disruptions or data loss.

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low
    Exploits can be performed without significant complexity or special conditions.
  • Attack Vector: Local
    Vulnerability requires local system access.
  • Privileges Required: Low
    Some privileges are necessary to exploit the vulnerability.
  • Scope: Unchanged
    Exploit remains within the originally vulnerable component.
  • User Interaction: Required
    User interaction is necessary for successful exploitation.

CVE-2026-28684 Details

Status: Analyzed

Last updated: 🕜 27 Apr 2026, 13:44 UTC
Originally published on: 🕔 20 Apr 2026, 17:16 UTC

Time between publication and last update: 6 days

CVSS Release: version 3

CVSS3 Source

security-advisories@github.com

CVSS3 Type

Secondary

CVSS3 Vector

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

CVE-2026-28684 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2026-28684: python-dotenv reads key-value pairs from a .env file and can set them as environment variables. Prior to version 1.2.2, `set_key()` and `unset_key()` in python-dotenv follow symbolic links when rewriting `.env` files, allowing a local attacker to overwrite arbitrary files via a crafted symlink when a cross-device rename fallback is triggered. Users should upgrade to v.1.2.2 or, as a workaround, apply the patch manually.

Assessing the Risk of CVE-2026-28684

Access Complexity Graph

The exploitability of CVE-2026-28684 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).

Exploitability Analysis for CVE-2026-28684

CVE-2026-28684 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.

Understanding AC and PR

A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.

Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.

Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-28684, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

CIA Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-28684, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

  • Confidentiality: None
    CVE-2026-28684 has no significant impact on data confidentiality.
  • Integrity: High
    CVE-2026-28684 could allow unauthorized modifications to data, potentially affecting system reliability and trust.
  • Availability: High
    CVE-2026-28684 can disrupt system operations, potentially causing complete denial of service (DoS).

CVE-2026-28684 References

External References

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-61

CAPEC Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification

  • Leveraging Race Conditions via Symbolic Links CAPEC-27 This attack leverages the use of symbolic links (Symlinks) in order to write to sensitive files. An attacker can create a Symlink link to a target file not otherwise accessible to them. When the privileged program tries to create a temporary file with the same name as the Symlink link, it will actually write to the target file pointed to by the attackers' Symlink link. If the attacker can insert malicious content in the temporary file they will be writing to the sensitive file by using the Symlink. The race occurs because the system checks if the temporary file exists, then creates the file. The attacker would typically create the Symlink during the interval between the check and the creation of the temporary file.

Vulnerable Configurations

  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.3:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.3:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.4:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.4:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.5:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.1.5:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.2.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.2.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.3.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.3.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.4.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.4.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.5.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.5.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.5.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.5.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.3:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.3:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.4:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.4:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.5:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.6.5:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.7.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.7.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.7.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.7.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.8.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.8.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.8.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.8.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.8.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.8.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.9.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.9.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.3:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.3:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.4:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.4:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.5:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.10.5:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.11.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.11.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.12.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.12.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.13.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.13.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.14.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.14.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.15.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.15.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.16.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.16.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.17.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.17.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.17.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.17.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.18.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.18.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.19.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.19.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.19.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.19.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.19.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.19.2:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.20.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.20.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.21.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.21.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.21.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:0.21.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.0.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.0.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.2.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.2.0:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.2.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:saurabh-kumar:python-dotenv:1.2.1:*:*:*:*:python:*:*

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