rebar3: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-103060 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in rebar3 from Erlang, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists versions 3.27.2, e35282b26e499b1d9e8f30bba9dccd71cd8b02ba as the first without the flaw, so updating rebar3 to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.45% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update rebar3 to 3.27.2 or e35282b26e499b1d9e8f30bba9dccd71cd8b02ba, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erlang | rebar3 | 3.7.0-rc1 up to, but not including, 3.27.2; 56b7d88975aa8da6446857cfd92de0825024bf63 up to, but not including, e35282b26e499b1d9e8f30bba9dccd71cd8b02ba | 3.27.2, e35282b26e499b1d9e8f30bba9dccd71cd8b02ba |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- ActiveA user must deliberately do something unusual, such as dismissing a warning.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA.
Official description
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in erlang rebar3 allows a malicious package publisher to delete a directory outside the project's _build directory and extract package files into it when a developer fetches dependencies. A package release's dependencies in a Hex registry carry an app field that names the dependency's OTP application. rebar3 uses this field as the dependency's name without validating it (rebar_packages:parse_deps/1) and builds the dependency's directory from that name (rebar_app_utils:dep_to_app/7). rebar_fetch:download_source_online/2 deletes that directory with rm -rf and moves the fetched package into it. hex.pm didn't restrict the field to a directory name before 2026-10-12, so a publisher could set it to a value such as ../../../../target. When a project depends on such a release directly or transitively, rebar3 get-deps deletes the directory the name resolves to and writes the dependency's files there. This happens before the dependency's own rebar.config.script is evaluated, and get-deps compiles nothing. This issue affects rebar3: from 3.7.0-rc1 before 3.27.2.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.
More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in rebar3
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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