CVE-2026-44301: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in gohugoio hugo
Hugo is a static site generator. From 0.43 to before 0.161.0, when building a Hugo site that uses Node-based asset pipelines (PostCSS, Babel, TailwindCSS), Hugo invoked the configured Node tools without restrictions on file system access. As a result, executing hugo against an untrusted site could allow code running through these tools to read or write files outside the project's working directory. Users who do not use PostCSS, Babel, or TailwindCSS, or who only build trusted sites, are not affected. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.161.0.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-44301 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in the Hugo static site generator affecting versions 0.43 through before 0.161.0. The issue arises because when Hugo builds sites using Node-based asset pipelines (PostCSS, Babel, TailwindCSS), it invokes these external tools without limiting their filesystem access. This lack of restriction can lead to unauthorized reading or writing of files outside the project directory if Hugo is run against untrusted site content. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.2 (medium severity). It is fixed in Hugo version 0.161.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker able to execute Hugo on an untrusted site that uses Node-based asset pipelines could leverage this vulnerability to read or write files outside the intended project directory. This could lead to unauthorized access or modification of files on the host system. Users who do not use the affected Node tools or only build trusted sites are not impacted. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade Hugo to version 0.161.0 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. Users who do not use PostCSS, Babel, or TailwindCSS, or only build trusted sites, are not affected and may not require immediate action. Patch status is confirmed fixed in version 0.161.0.
CVE-2026-44301: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in gohugoio hugo
Description
Hugo is a static site generator. From 0.43 to before 0.161.0, when building a Hugo site that uses Node-based asset pipelines (PostCSS, Babel, TailwindCSS), Hugo invoked the configured Node tools without restrictions on file system access. As a result, executing hugo against an untrusted site could allow code running through these tools to read or write files outside the project's working directory. Users who do not use PostCSS, Babel, or TailwindCSS, or who only build trusted sites, are not affected. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.161.0.
CVSS v4.0
Score 6.2medium
Affected software
pkg:golang/github.com/gohugoio/hugoRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-44301 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in the Hugo static site generator affecting versions 0.43 through before 0.161.0. The issue arises because when Hugo builds sites using Node-based asset pipelines (PostCSS, Babel, TailwindCSS), it invokes these external tools without limiting their filesystem access. This lack of restriction can lead to unauthorized reading or writing of files outside the project directory if Hugo is run against untrusted site content. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.2 (medium severity). It is fixed in Hugo version 0.161.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker able to execute Hugo on an untrusted site that uses Node-based asset pipelines could leverage this vulnerability to read or write files outside the intended project directory. This could lead to unauthorized access or modification of files on the host system. Users who do not use the affected Node tools or only build trusted sites are not impacted. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade Hugo to version 0.161.0 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. Users who do not use PostCSS, Babel, or TailwindCSS, or only build trusted sites, are not affected and may not require immediate action. Patch status is confirmed fixed in version 0.161.0.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-05T17:39:31.113Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a03a0decbff5d86101d5c89
Added to database: 05/12/2026, 21:51:26 UTC
Last enriched: 05/12/2026, 22:07:47 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 19:22:59 UTC
Views: 77
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