CVE-2026-76804: Nuclei Local File Read Vulnerability

{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-qgw5-7j4f-fg97",
  "modified" : "2026-09-22T20:37:22Z",
  "published" : "2026-09-22T20:37:21Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-76804" ],
  "summary" : "Nuclei: Local File Read via Workflow File-Protocol Gate Bypass",
  "details" : "A vulnerability in Nuclei's workflow template loader allows `file:` protocol templates to execute without the `-file` flag, bypassing a security gate that is meant to prevent local file reads on the scanner host.\n\n**Affected Component**\n\nThe issue is in the workflow template loading path. The main template loader enforces the `-file` gate for file-protocol templates, but the workflow loader did not apply the same check when resolving templates referenced by a workflow.\n\n**Description**\n\nNuclei disables file-protocol templates by default because they read local files from the host running the scanner. Operators must explicitly enable them with the `-file` flag. When a workflow references a file-protocol template, the workflow loader accepted and executed that template without verifying that `-file` was enabled.\n\nBecause workflows run unsigned by default, an untrusted workflow could load and execute a file-protocol template and read local files from the scan target path, even though the operator had not enabled file templates.\n\n> [!NOTE]\nFile-protocol templates are disabled by default. This issue only affects users who run workflows from untrusted sources without having explicitly enabled `-file`.\n\n**Affected Users**\n\n- **CLI users** running workflows (`-w`) that reference file-protocol templates from untrusted or third-party sources.\n- **SDK users** who integrate Nuclei into platforms where end users can supply workflow files and rely on the default `-file` restriction to block local file access.\n\n**Patches**\n\n- The vulnerability is fixed in Nuclei v3.10.0. Upgrading is strongly recommended.\n- Fix reference: https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/pull/7489\n\n**Mitigation**\n\nUpgrade to Nuclei v3.10.0, where template execution requirements (including the `-file` gate) are enforced consistently across the main loader, workflow parsing, and request compilation paths.\n\nIn the meantime, avoid running workflows from unverified sources.\n\n**Workarounds**\n\nIf upgrading is not an option, do not run untrusted workflow files. There is no configuration flag that mitigates this bypass on affected versions.\n\n**Acknowledgments**\n\nThanks to @daffainfo for reporting this issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.10.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/security/advisories/GHSA-qgw5-7j4f-fg97"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-76804"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/pull/7489"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/commit/638be4481d27f1bbf90f971bbf6e3023777f2089"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/releases/tag/v3.10.0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-284" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-09-22T20:37:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-09-22T17:17:24Z"
  }
}