CVE-2026-48681: Ironic Path Traversal Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9v62-qx4c-44x5
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CVSS 5.9
CWE-23
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-48681 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal) affecting Ironic libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves openstack ironic allows file overwrite via directory traversal during deployment with a crafted iso image. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 26.1.7, 29.0.6, 32.0.2, 35.0.2.

CVE-2026-48681 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-48681
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9v62-qx4c-44x5
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.9
CWE Classification CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal
Affected Product Ironic
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-48681

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ironic dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

ironic fixed: 26.1.7 
pip install ironic>=26.1.7
ironic fixed: 29.0.6 
pip install ironic>=29.0.6
ironic fixed: 32.0.2 
pip install ironic>=32.0.2
ironic fixed: 35.0.2 
pip install ironic>=35.0.2
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show ironic

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2026-48681, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show ironic

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ironic in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 26.1.7), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show ironic command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal, where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory. In Ironic, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

OpenStack Ironic through before 35.0.2 allows file overwrite via directory traversal during deployment with a crafted ISO image.

CVE-2026-48681 Affected Ironic Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
26.1.729.0.632.0.235.0.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ironic
pypi/ironic
PyPI
≥ 17.0.0
< 26.1.7
26.1.7
ironic
pypi/ironic
PyPI
≥ 27.0.0
< 29.0.6
29.0.6
ironic
pypi/ironic
PyPI
≥ 30.0.0
< 32.0.2
32.0.2
ironic
pypi/ironic
PyPI
≥ 33.0.0
< 35.0.2
35.0.2

References

NVD — CVE-2026-48681 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-48681
bugs.launchpad.net/ironic/+bug/2148333 WEB
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ironic/+bug/2148333
Ironic Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openstack/ironic
Ironic Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/03/12
Ironic Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/03/12

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-48681?
CVE-2026-48681 is a security vulnerability in Ironic involving OpenStack Ironic allows file overwrite via directory traversal during deployment with a crafted ISO image under CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal.
Which Ironic versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 26.1.7, 29.0.6, 32.0.2, 35.0.2 across affected packages: ironic.
What version fixes CVE-2026-48681?
Upgrading to 26.1.7, 29.0.6, 32.0.2, 35.0.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ironic affected?
Yes, ironic is affected in releases prior to 26.1.7, 29.0.6, 32.0.2, 35.0.2. Upgrade your dependency to 26.1.7, 29.0.6, 32.0.2, 35.0.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-48681?
CVE-2026-48681 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-48681?
CVE-2026-48681 is classified under CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-48681?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show ironic'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-9v62-qx4c-44x5",
  "modified" : "2026-07-14T19:50:43Z",
  "published" : "2026-06-04T06:30:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-48681" ],
  "summary" : "OpenStack Ironic allows file overwrite via directory traversal during deployment with a crafted ISO image",
  "details" : "OpenStack Ironic through before 35.0.2 allows file overwrite via directory traversal during deployment with a crafted ISO image.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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    },
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        "fixed" : "26.1.7"
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  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openstack/ironic"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/03/12"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/03/12"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-07-14T19:50:43Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-04T04:17:15Z"
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}