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How CVE-2026-70592 Works
Ghost is a popular Node.js-based content management system. A path traversal vulnerability, identified as CVE-2026-70592, affects versions from 1.20.1 up to, but not including, 6.54.1. The core of the issue lies in the database export functionality, a feature accessible to users with Administrator-level privileges.
The database export endpoint allows an administrator to specify a filename for the backup. The vulnerability arises because this endpoint fails to adequately validate or reject path separators (such as ../) in the user-supplied filename. This flaw is a classic case of CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (‘Path Traversal’).
By crafting a malicious filename containing path traversal sequences, an authenticated administrator can escape the intended backup directory and specify an arbitrary path on the server’s filesystem. Consequently, the application can be tricked into overwriting any file that the Ghost process has write permissions for.
The impact is a breach of data integrity and availability. While the vulnerability itself does not directly enable remote code execution (RCE), it can be a stepping stone for further compromise. An attacker could overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or application code, potentially leading to a denial of service, data tampering, or complete server takeover.
The vulnerability is assigned a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5, indicating a MEDIUM severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L. This reflects that the attack is network-based, has low complexity, requires high privileges (Administrator), and can change scope, but only impacts integrity and availability partially. The vulnerability was fixed in version 6.54.1.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Ghost CMS
Version: 1.20.1 to 6.54.0
Vulnerability: Path Traversal (CWE-22)
Severity: MEDIUM (CVSS 5.5)
date: 2026-08-04
Prediction: 2026-08-05 (Patch Released)
What Undercode Say:
Vulnerability Analysis: The core issue is the lack of sanitization on the `filename` parameter in the database export endpoint. This allows an attacker to manipulate the file path.
Affected Component: The primary affected component is the Database Export functionality within the Ghost Admin panel.
Attack Vector: An authenticated administrator can exploit this by sending a crafted request to the database export API.
Proof of Concept: While no public PoC is known, the vulnerability is considered straightforward to exploit given admin access.
Exploit Price: Current exploit price is estimated between $0-$5k.
Patch Status: The fix is available in version 6.54.1.
Workaround: If upgrading is not possible, set `disableJSBackups` to `true` via the Ghost CLI.
How Exploit:
An attacker with Administrator privileges could exploit this vulnerability by following these steps:
1. Authenticate: Log in to the Ghost Admin panel with an Administrator account.
2. Access Export Function: Navigate to the database export functionality within the admin settings.
3. Craft Malicious Filename: Instead of a standard filename, the attacker inputs a path traversal string. For example, `../../../../etc/passwd` or ../../config.js.
4. Initiate Export: Trigger the database export process. The application uses the unsanitized input to construct the file path for the backup.
5. Overwrite File: The application writes the backup data to the attacker-specified location, overwriting the target file on the server.
A simplified representation of the vulnerable code logic might be:
Hypothetical vulnerable code snippet filename = req.body.filename User-supplied, e.g., "../../../etc/passwd" backup_path = "/var/lib/ghost/backups/" + filename fs.writeFile(backup_path, data) Overwrites /etc/passwd
Protection:
Official Fix: The most effective protection is to upgrade Ghost to version 6.54.1 or later.
Update Methods:
Docker: Pull the latest official Ghost Docker image.
Ghost-CLI: Run the command `ghost update` to update to the latest version.
Temporary Workaround: If an immediate upgrade is not possible, you can mitigate the risk by disabling JavaScript backups. Run the following command in your Ghost installation directory:
ghost config set disableJSBackups true ghost restart
Access Control: Restrict access to the Ghost admin panel to only trusted users.
File System Permissions: Ensure the Ghost process runs with the least privileges necessary, and that critical system files are not writable by the application user.
Monitoring: Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) to detect unauthorized changes to critical files.
Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF to filter out malicious path traversal patterns (e.g., ../) in requests.
Impact:
Integrity: An attacker can overwrite critical system and application files, compromising the integrity of the server.
Availability: Overwriting essential files can lead to application crashes, denial of service, or an unusable system.
Potential for Escalation: While not directly RCE, overwriting configuration or application code can be a precursor to more severe attacks, including complete server compromise or persistent backdoor installation.
Supply Chain Risk: The ability to modify files can lead to supply-chain compromise if the altered files are distributed or used in other environments.
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Sources:
Reported By: github.com
Extra Source Hub:
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