OTRS: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-78355 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in OTRS from OTRS GmbH (former OTRS AG), with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.7 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected OTRS versions: 7.0.x; 8.0.x; 2023.x, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.72% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 55% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of OTRS you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on otrs.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTRS GmbH (former OTRS AG) | OTRS | 7.0.x; 8.0.x; 2023.x; 2024.x; 2025.x; 2026.x through 2026.6.x | Not stated |
| OTRS GmbH (former OTRS AG) | ((OTRS)) Community Edition | 6.x | Not stated |
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
- 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:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (otrs.com).
Official description
A path traversal vulnerability in the OTRS SendSupportBundle functionality allows an authenticated administrator to reference file paths outside the intended directory. This may allow files accessible to the OTRS application process to be deleted. The vulnerability does not bypass operating system file permissions. On OTRS versions prior to OTRS 7, the effective permissions of the web server process are relevant. Starting with OTRS 7, access is limited by the permissions of the dedicated OTRS user. Files with overly permissive ownership or file system permissions may therefore also be affected. The affected functionality may additionally attempt to include controlled files in a support bundle. However, support bundles are sent to a predefined OTRS support address, and direct disclosure of arbitrary files to the attacker has not been demonstrated. An attacker therefore requires valid administrative access to exploit the vulnerable functionality. The primary demonstrated impact is the deletion of files outside the intended directory within the effective permissions of the OTRS application process. This issue affects OTRS: * 7.0.X * 8.0.X * 2023.X * 2024.X * 2025.X * 2026.X before 2026.7.X Please note that ((OTRS)) Community Edition 6.x and before are vulnerable. Products based on the ((OTRS)) Community Edition also very likely to be affected
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: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in OTRS
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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