CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-45171NVD status: Analyzed

Privileged Session Manager, Vault: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-45171 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in Privileged Session Manager, Vault from CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 14.0.5, 14.2.5, 14.6.3 as the first without the flaw, so updating Privileged Session Manager, Vault to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.54% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Privileged Session Manager, Vault to 14.0.5 or 14.2.5 or 14.6.3 or 15.0.3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Idira Privileged Session Manager to 14.0.5 or 14.2.5 or 14.6.3 or 15.0.3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks CompanyPrivileged Session Manager, Vault14.0 up to, but not including, 14.0.5; 14.2 up to, but not including, 14.2.5; 14.6 up to, but not including, 14.6.3; 15.0 up to, but not including, 15.0.314.0.5, 14.2.5, 14.6.3, 15.0.3
Palo Alto NetworksIdira Privileged Session Manager14.0 up to, but not including, 14.0.5; 14.2 up to, but not including, 14.2.5; 14.6 up to, but not including, 14.6.3; 15.0 up to, but not including, 15.0.314.0.5, 14.2.5, 14.6.3, 15.0.3

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
LowA basic user account is enough.
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
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.08.7HighCNA (paloaltonetworks.com)
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD

Official description

Incomplete input validation and improperly configured folder permissions within Idira Privileged Session Manager (PSM) versions prior to 15.0.3, 14.6.3, 14.2.5, and 14.0.5, an authenticated, low-privileged user could potentially execute arbitrary code. CyberArk Security Bulletin: CA26-17 and CA26-18

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

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.