@fastify/http-proxy: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-120213 is a critical-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in @fastify/http-proxy, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 11.6.6 as the first without the flaw, so updating @fastify/http-proxy to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.69% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 53% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update @fastify/http-proxy to 11.6.6 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on cna.openjsf.org 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.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| @fastify/http-proxy | @fastify/http-proxy | 9.0.0 up to, but not including, 11.6.6 | 11.6.6 |
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.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA.
Official description
@fastify/http-proxy is a Fastify plugin that proxies HTTP requests to an upstream server under a configured prefix. In versions 9.0.0 through 11.6.5, when an application uses parameterized prefix and rewritePrefix options to pin clients to a fixed upstream path, the plugin substitutes URL-decoded route parameters into rewritePrefix without re-encoding them. A parameter value that encodes a path separator together with a fragment or query delimiter therefore decodes into real separators and delimiters that inject extra upstream path segments and strip the mandatory suffix the rewritePrefix was meant to enforce, without using any dot-dot traversal. An unauthenticated remote attacker can use this to reach upstream locations outside the intended prefix, leading to path-restriction bypass and, depending on the upstream, server-side request forgery or authorization bypass in the proxied service. The issue is fixed in @fastify/http-proxy 11.6.6, and users should upgrade to 11.6.6 or later. There is no workaround other than upgrading.
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: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in @fastify/http-proxy
- 7.5 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
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