CVE-2026-2818 is a CWE-23 relative path traversal vulnerability identified in VMware Spring Data Geode version 2.0.0.RELEASE, specifically within its import snapshot feature. This vulnerability is a classic zip-slip flaw, where maliciously crafted archive files can cause the extraction process to write files outside the intended directory by using relative path sequences such as '../'. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite or creation on the host system. The vulnerability is confirmed to be exploitable only on Windows operating systems due to path handling differences. The attack vector is network-based with no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary to trigger the import functionality with a malicious archive. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.2 (high), reflecting the ease of exploitation (low attack complexity), no privileges required, and a significant impact on integrity with a scope change (potentially affecting other components or systems). Confidentiality impact is low, and availability is unaffected. Although no public exploits are known yet, the vulnerability poses a serious risk because arbitrary file writes can lead to code execution, persistence, or disruption of system operations. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention from affected organizations.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-2818 is the potential for attackers to overwrite or create arbitrary files on affected Windows systems running VMware Spring Data Geode 2.0.0.RELEASE. This can lead to unauthorized code execution, privilege escalation, or persistent backdoors if critical system or application files are overwritten. The integrity of the system and data is severely compromised, which can undermine trust in enterprise data infrastructure relying on Geode. Confidentiality impact is limited since the vulnerability does not directly expose data but could facilitate further attacks that compromise sensitive information. Availability is not directly affected, but secondary effects such as system instability or denial of service could occur if critical files are corrupted. Organizations using this product in cloud, financial, or government sectors could face significant operational and reputational damage if exploited. The requirement for user interaction limits mass exploitation but targeted attacks remain a serious concern. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation.

1. Immediately upgrade to a patched version of VMware Spring Data Geode once available; monitor VMware advisories for updates. 2. Until patches are released, restrict access to the import snapshot functionality to trusted users only and disable it if not essential. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on archive files before import, rejecting any with suspicious relative path components. 4. Employ application-layer sandboxing or run the import process with minimal privileges and in isolated environments to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 5. Monitor file system changes in directories used by the import snapshot feature to detect unauthorized writes. 6. Educate users about the risks of importing untrusted archives and enforce policies to prevent importing files from unverified sources. 7. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous file writes or execution patterns related to this vulnerability. 8. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on archive extraction and file handling components. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the vulnerable functionality, monitoring for exploitation signs, and minimizing the attack surface until official patches are deployed.