wazuh-manager: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-74043 is a critical-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in wazuh-manager from Wazuh, 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. The record lists version 4.14.8 as the first without the flaw, so updating wazuh-manager to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.44% 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
- Update wazuh-manager to 4.14.8 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wazuh | wazuh-manager | 4.1.1 up to, but not including, 4.14.8 | 4.14.8 |
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
- LowSome restricted data 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:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.5 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.0 | Critical | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
Wazuh from 4.1.1 before 4.14.8 contains a path traversal vulnerability in upload_list_file, upload_rule_file, and upload_decoder_file that allows malicious cluster workers to write files at arbitrary paths. Attackers holding the cluster key can send DistributedAPI requests with ../ sequences in filename, bypassing REST controller validation, to write files as the wazuh user.
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: no, technical impact: total).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in wazuh-manager
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.