CVE-2015-8768

click/install.py in click does not require files in package filesystem tarballs to start with ./ ...

9.8 CriticalFix available

click/install.py in click does not require files in package filesystem tarballs to start with ./ (dot slash), which allows remote attackers to install an alternate security policy and gain privileges via a crafted package, as demonstrated by the test.mmrow app for Ubuntu phone.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

2.75%Up 1.3 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Record: CVE-2015-8768
CVSS 3.0: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 7.5 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness: CWE-264
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

Record: CVE-2015-8768
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2015-8640 No score

Record: EUVD-2015-8640
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-fgm2-j3wp-hrw5 9.8

click/install.py in click does not require files in package filesystem tarballs to start with ./ ...

Record: GHSA-fgm2-j3wp-hrw5
CVSS 3.0: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2015-8768 9.8

Record: UBUNTU-CVE-2015-8768
CVSS 3.0: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUSN-2771-1 No score

click vulnerability

It was discovered that click did not properly perform input sanitization during click package installation. If a user were tricked into installing a crafted click package, a remote attacker could exploit this to escalate privileges by tricking click into installing lenient security policy for the installed application.

Record: USN-2771-1
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`click` Ubuntu:14.04:LTS	before 0.4.21.1ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions 0.4.110.4.120.4.130.4.140.4.15 Show 7 moreShow less 0.4.160.4.17.20.4.18.10.4.18.30.4.190.4.200.4.21.1	0.4.21.1ubuntu0.2

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2015-8768 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Click Project Click, published October 15, 2015. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.75%, the 86th percentile. Fixed in click 0.4.21.1ubuntu0.2.

References

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