CVE-2026-86542: Path Traversal (CVSS 9.1)

Description

knowns before 0.30.0 fails to validate import names in the import routes, allowing unauthenticated attackers to write files outside the imports directory. Attackers can supply traversal sequences in the name parameter to escape the imports directory and overwrite arbitrary files writable by the server process.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

9.1

CRITICAL

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0047

Probability of exploitation

0.40%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-22 Path Traversal

References

Other References

https://github.com/knowns-dev/knowns/blob/v0.29.1/internal/server/routes/imports.go#L376-L420 https://github.com/knowns-dev/knowns/blob/v0.29.1/internal/server/routes/imports.go#L519-L551 https://github.com/knowns-dev/knowns/commit/d3989829fb5095666d23d005b2f78a082832a396 https://github.com/knowns-dev/knowns/releases/tag/v0.30.0 https://github.com/knowns-dev/knowns/security/advisories/GHSA-wh3c-v55g-qfg8 https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/knowns-before-0.30.0-path-traversal-via-import-name

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-86542? +

knowns before 0.30.0 fails to validate import names in the import routes, allowing unauthenticated attackers to write files outside the imports directory. Attackers can supply traversal sequences in the name parameter to escape the imports directory and overwrite arbitrary files writable by the server process. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2026-86542? +

CVE-2026-86542 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.1 out of 10, rated CRITICAL. This is a critical vulnerability that should be patched immediately. The EPSS score is 0.0047, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-86542? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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