CVE-2026-42520: Credentials binding Path Traversal Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-p2rf-wpxj-mx2g
CVSS 7.5
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-42520 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Credentials binding libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jenkins credentials binding plugin has a path traversal vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 720.v3f6decef43ea.

CVE-2026-42520 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-42520
GHSA Identifier GHSA-p2rf-wpxj-mx2g
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Credentials binding
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2026-42520

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

org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding fixed: 720.v3f6decef43ea
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>credentials-binding</artifactId>
    <version>720.v3f6decef43ea</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-42520, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Credentials binding in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 720.v3f6decef43ea), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where 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. In Credentials binding, 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

Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin versions 719.v80e905ef14eb_ and earlier do not sanitize file names for file and zip file credentials. This allows attackers able to provide credentials to a job to write files to arbitrary locations on the node filesystem. If Jenkins is configured to allow a low-privileged user to configure file or zip file credentials used for a job running on the built-in node, this can lead to remote code execution. Credentials Binding Plugin 720.v3f6decef43ea_ sanitizes the file name provided for file and zip file credentials, preventing path traversal.

CVE-2026-42520 Affected Credentials binding Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
720.v3f6decef43ea
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding
Maven
< 720.v3f6decef43ea
720.v3f6decef43ea

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-42520?
CVE-2026-42520 is a security vulnerability in Credentials binding involving Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin has a path traversal vulnerability under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
Which Credentials binding versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 720.v3f6decef43ea across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding.
What version fixes CVE-2026-42520?
Upgrading to 720.v3f6decef43ea (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is credentials-binding affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding is affected in releases prior to 720.v3f6decef43ea. Upgrade your dependency to 720.v3f6decef43ea or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-42520?
CVE-2026-42520 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-42520?
CVE-2026-42520 is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (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 can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-42520?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins'. 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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-p2rf-wpxj-mx2g",
  "modified" : "2026-05-06T22:45:55Z",
  "published" : "2026-04-29T15:30:38Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-42520" ],
  "summary" : "Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin has a path traversal vulnerability",
  "details" : "Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin versions 719.v80e905ef14eb_ and earlier do not sanitize file names for file and zip file credentials.\n\nThis allows attackers able to provide credentials to a job to write files to arbitrary locations on the node filesystem. If Jenkins is configured to allow a low-privileged user to configure file or zip file credentials used for a job running on the built-in node, this can lead to remote code execution.\n\nCredentials Binding Plugin 720.v3f6decef43ea_ sanitizes the file name provided for file and zip file credentials, preventing path traversal.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "720.v3f6decef43ea"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42520"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/credentials-binding-plugin"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2026-04-29/#SECURITY-3672"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-06T22:45:55Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-29T14:16:19Z"
  }
}