core: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-53581 is a critical-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in core from Opnsense, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected core versions: < 26.1.9; < 26.4_20. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.47% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of core you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
OPNsense is a FreeBSD based firewall and routing platform. Prior to version 26.1.9 of opnsense/core and version 26.4_20 of BE/opnsense/core, a path traversal vulnerability in the NTP configuration module allows an attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the system as the root user. By manipulating the GPS or PPS serial port parameter, an attacker with access to the NTP configuration can escape the intended directory and force the system to write user-controlled data to any file on the filesystem. Version 26.1.9 of opnsense/core and version 26.4_20 of BE/opnsense/core patch the issue.
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: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in core
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.0 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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