CVE-2026-109221: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2026-109221 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when 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.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.
CVE-2026-109221 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 8.1
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2026-109221
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:treeHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-109221, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:treeAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree 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 Software, 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
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-109221?
Which Software versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-109221?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-109221?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-109221?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-109221?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-xq4h-vhg9-4x8m",
"modified" : "2026-10-16T06:30:26Z",
"published" : "2026-10-16T06:30:26Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-109221" ],
"details" : "The Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the copy_file function in all versions up to, and including, 4.9.3 This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Sales Representative-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). This is exploitable by any user holding the plugin-defined import_contacts capability, which is granted by default to the plugin's custom Sales Representative role.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-109221"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/groundhoggwp/groundhogg/commit/e319e4a849bfbb07cccfbac8558ad6bf07a7fdc0"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/admin/tools/tools-page.php#L575"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/admin/tools/tools-page.php#L602"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/background/import-contacts.php#L200"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/classes/traits/file-box.php#L85"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/classes/traits/file-box.php#L94"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/functions.php#L2872"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/functions.php#L8045"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/main-roles.php#L583"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/utils/files.php#L323"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3744461/groundhogg/trunk/includes/classes/traits/file-box.php"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/fb5100ac-cfe6-4e91-9349-6e8efa850147?source=cve"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : false,
"github_reviewed_at" : null,
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-10-16T05:17:29Z"
}
}