Crawl4AI: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-56260 is a critical-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in Crawl4AI, 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 0.8.7 as the first without the flaw, so updating Crawl4AI to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.65% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 52% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update Crawl4AI to 0.8.7 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.
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- 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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.8 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
Crawl4AI before 0.8.7 contains an arbitrary file write vulnerability in the Docker API server's /screenshot and /pdf endpoints. The output_path parameter accepts arbitrary filesystem paths without validation, allowing an attacker to supply absolute or path-traversal values to write to any location writable by the application's user, overwriting server files and causing denial of service.
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: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- vulncheck.com/advisories/crawl4ai-arbitrary-file-write-via-output-path-parameterThird Party Advisory
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Crawl4AI
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
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