diff --git a/sagemaker-core/src/sagemaker/core/common_utils.py b/sagemaker-core/src/sagemaker/core/common_utils.py
index 8a8134f5ea..e7cb6efcb0 100644
--- a/sagemaker-core/src/sagemaker/core/common_utils.py
+++ b/sagemaker-core/src/sagemaker/core/common_utils.py
@@ -500,10 +500,14 @@ def create_tar_file(source_files, target=None):
     Returns:
         (str): path to created tar file
     """
+    for sf in source_files:
+        _validate_tar_source_path(sf)
+
     if target:
         filename = target
     else:
-        _, filename = tempfile.mkstemp()
+        file_descriptor, filename = tempfile.mkstemp()
+        os.close(file_descriptor)
 
     with tarfile.open(filename, mode="w:gz", dereference=True) as t:
         for sf in source_files:
@@ -512,6 +516,45 @@ def create_tar_file(source_files, target=None):
     return filename
 
 
+def _validate_tar_source_path(source_path):
+    """Validate that tar source symlinks do not escape their source root."""
+    source_root = os.path.realpath(source_path)
+
+    if _is_link_or_junction(source_path):
+        _validate_link_target_within_root(source_path, os.path.dirname(source_path))
+        return
+
+    if not os.path.isdir(source_path):
+        return
+
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(source_path, followlinks=False):
+        for name in dirs + files:
+            path = os.path.join(root, name)
+            if _is_link_or_junction(path):
+                _validate_link_target_within_root(path, source_root)
+
+
+def _is_link_or_junction(path):
+    is_junction = getattr(os.path, "isjunction", lambda _: False)
+    return os.path.islink(path) or is_junction(path)
+
+
+def _validate_link_target_within_root(link_path, source_root):
+    link_real = os.path.realpath(link_path)
+    root_real = os.path.realpath(source_root)
+    try:
+        common_path = os.path.commonpath([link_real, root_real])
+    except ValueError as e:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Source file link '{link_path}' resolves outside the source directory"
+        ) from e
+
+    if common_path != root_real:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Source file link '{link_path}' resolves outside the source directory"
+        )
+
+
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def _tmpdir(suffix="", prefix="tmp", directory=None):
     """Create a temporary directory with a context manager.
diff --git a/sagemaker-core/tests/unit/test_common_utils.py b/sagemaker-core/tests/unit/test_common_utils.py
index 3f7fc94f67..e6a8c42664 100644
--- a/sagemaker-core/tests/unit/test_common_utils.py
+++ b/sagemaker-core/tests/unit/test_common_utils.py
@@ -516,6 +516,41 @@ def test_create_tar_file_with_target(self, tmp_path):
         assert os.path.exists(tar_path)
         os.remove(tar_path)
 
+    def test_create_tar_file_rejects_symlink_outside_source_directory(self, tmp_path):
+        """Test that tar creation does not dereference links outside the source."""
+        source_dir = tmp_path / "source"
+        source_dir.mkdir()
+        outside_file = tmp_path / "secret.txt"
+        outside_file.write_text("secret")
+        link_path = source_dir / "leak.txt"
+
+        try:
+            link_path.symlink_to(outside_file)
+        except (OSError, NotImplementedError):
+            pytest.skip("symlink creation is not available")
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="resolves outside the source directory"):
+            create_tar_file([str(source_dir)])
+
+    def test_create_tar_file_allows_symlink_inside_source_directory(self, tmp_path):
+        """Test that safe internal links are not rejected."""
+        source_dir = tmp_path / "source"
+        source_dir.mkdir()
+        target_file = source_dir / "data.txt"
+        target_file.write_text("data")
+        link_path = source_dir / "data-link.txt"
+
+        try:
+            link_path.symlink_to(target_file)
+        except (OSError, NotImplementedError):
+            pytest.skip("symlink creation is not available")
+
+        tar_path = create_tar_file([str(source_dir)])
+        try:
+            assert os.path.exists(tar_path)
+        finally:
+            os.remove(tar_path)
+
 
 class TestTmpdir:
     """Test _tmpdir context manager."""