CVE-2026-44542: Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser Path Traversal Vulnerability
CRITICALCVE-2026-44542 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.1) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves filebrowser public share delete api path traversal allows unauthenticated arbitrary file deletion. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.0.0-20260501183844-112740bdd41d.
CVE-2026-44542 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 9.1
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2026-44542
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser to 0.0.0-20260501183844-112740bdd41d
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-44542, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser:
inspect dependencies for github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.0.0-20260501183844-112740bdd41d), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
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 Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser, 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
CVE-2026-44542 Affected Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser
|
Go |
< 0.0.0-20260501183844-112740bdd41d
|
0.0.0-20260501183844-112740bdd41d
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-44542?
Which Github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-44542?
Is github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-44542?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-44542?
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2026-44542?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-fwj3-42wh-8673",
"modified" : "2026-05-14T20:54:32Z",
"published" : "2026-05-07T03:28:06Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-44542" ],
"summary" : "FileBrowser Public Share DELETE API Path Traversal Allows Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion",
"details" : "### **Summary**\n\nAttacker-controlled path input is joined with a trusted base path prior to sanitization, allowing traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to escape the intended shared directory. As a result, an unauthenticated attacker possessing a valid public share hash with delete permissions enabled can delete arbitrary files outside the shared directory within the share owner’s configured storage scope.\n\n### **Affected Components**\n\n**Two distinct vulnerable code paths:**\n\n1. Stable versions (e.g., gtstef/filebrowser:stable)\n`DELETE /public/api/resources?hash=<hash>&path=../victim`\nRoot cause: middleware.go:111\nIssue: path query parameter is joined before SanitizeUserPath()\n2. Development / HEAD (e.g., commit eabdfd9)\n`DELETE /public/api/resources/bulk?hash=<hash>`\nBody: [{\"path\":\"../victim\"}]\nRoot cause: resource.go:274\nIssue: item.Path is joined before SanitizeUserPath()\n\n### **Steps to reproduce (Stable Version)**\n\n**1. Create a directory structure:**\n\n```\n/folder/shared_subdir/ (shared)\n/folder/protected.txt (outside shared directory)\n```\n\n**2. Create a public share:**\n```\nPath: /shared_subdir\nAllowDelete=true\n```\n\n**3. Send request:**\n\n```\ncurl -X DELETE \"http://localhost/public/api/resources?hash=<HASH>&path=../protected.txt\"\n\n#Observe:\n#protected.txt is deleted despite being outside the shared directory\n```\n\n### **Proof of Concept (HEAD / bulk endpoint)**\n\n```\ncurl -X DELETE \"http://localhost/public/api/resources/bulk?hash=<HASH>\" \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d '[{\"path\":\"../protected.txt\"}]'\n```\n\n### **Alternative PoC Scripts:**\n[poc_v3.sh](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/26159404/poc_v3.sh) (**If the script fails due to environment differences, the manual PoC above reliably reproduces the issue.**)\n\n\n### **Impact**\nAn unauthenticated attacker with access to a public share link configured with delete permissions enabled can delete attacker-chosen files outside the shared directory, anywhere within the share owner’s storage scope. This results in unauthorized data loss and potential service disruption.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "0.0.0-20260501183844-112740bdd41d"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser/security/advisories/GHSA-fwj3-42wh-8673"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-44542"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser/commit/112740bdd41de7d5eb01e13ba49d406bfc463f69"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-05-07T03:28:06Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-14T18:16:50Z"
}
}