pip._internal.models ModuleNotFoundError in Official Python Slim Docker Images

Official Python slim Docker images are shipping with a broken pip installation as of late May / June 2026. Any pip command fails immediately on a fresh pull with no modifications to the image.

Affected Images

• python:3.10-slim-buster
• python:3.11-slim

Reproduce

docker run --rm python:3.10-slim-buster pip install requests
docker run --rm python:3.11-slim pip install requests

No apt installs, no pip upgrades, no Dockerfile changes, fails on a clean pull.

Error

File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/pip/_internal/locations/__init__.py", line 9
    from pip._internal.models.scheme import SCHEME_KEYS, Scheme
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pip._internal.models'

Impact

Silent breaking change. Builds working with zero Dockerfile modifications are
Now broken.

Environment

• Docker: 26.x
• Host OS: Linux
• Date observed: June 1, 2026

Riproduci il problema con i comandi docker run elencati per python:3.10-slim-buster e python:3.11-slim, quindi analizza il packaging dell’immagine ufficiale e l’installazione di pip per il modulo mancante segnalato. L’attività è completata quando un nuovo pull di ciascuna immagine interessata può eseguire pip install requests correttamente senza ulteriori modifiche a Dockerfile o apt.