# Description of Changes
**Summary**
- Enforce wheels-only installs for CI/dev workflows where feasible and
pin `pip` to a specific, patched VCS commit as an interim mitigation.
- Replace the explicit `pip==25.2` entry with a VCS-pinned `pip`
reference in `.github/scripts/requirements_dev.in` and the regenerated
`.github/scripts/requirements_dev.txt`.
- Refresh and re-hash multiple development dependency pins in the locked
`requirements_dev.txt` to ensure reproducible installs and reduce
exposure to vulnerable transitive packages.
- Add notes and guidance for maintainers on reverting the VCS pin once
an official pip release contains the fix.
**Why the change was made**
- CVE-2025-8869 allows malicious sdists to include links that escape the
intended extraction directory, enabling arbitrary file overwrite during
`pip install`. CI and developer automation that installs dev
dependencies are at risk if they process attacker-controlled sdists.
- This PR reduces immediate attack surface by preferring wheel
installations where possible and pinning pip to a known patched commit
until an official fixed pip release is available.
---
## Checklist
### General
- [ ] I have read the [Contribution
Guidelines](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)
- [ ] I have read the [Stirling-PDF Developer
Guide](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/devGuide/DeveloperGuide.md)
(if applicable)
- [ ] I have read the [How to add new languages to
Stirling-PDF](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/devGuide/HowToAddNewLanguage.md)
(if applicable)
- [ ] I have performed a self-review of my own code
- [ ] My changes generate no new warnings
### Documentation
- [ ] I have updated relevant docs on [Stirling-PDF's doc
repo](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-Tools.github.io/blob/main/docs/)
(if functionality has heavily changed)
- [ ] I have read the section [Add New Translation
Tags](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/devGuide/HowToAddNewLanguage.md#add-new-translation-tags)
(for new translation tags only)
### UI Changes (if applicable)
- [ ] Screenshots or videos demonstrating the UI changes are attached
(e.g., as comments or direct attachments in the PR)
### Testing (if applicable)
- [ ] I have tested my changes locally. Refer to the [Testing
Guide](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/devGuide/DeveloperGuide.md#6-testing)
for more details.
