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CVE-2026-72841: External Control of File Name or Path in openwrt luci

0
Critical
VulnerabilityCVE-2026-72841cvecve-2026-72841
Published: 08/13/2026 (08/13/2026, 21:54:40 UTC)
Source: CVE Database V5
Vendor/Project: openwrt
Product: luci

Description

luci-app-openvpn fails to properly validate the instance_name2 parameter during file upload, allowing authenticated users to perform path traversal and write arbitrary files outside the intended directory. Attackers can upload malicious payloads to gain persistent root code execution by placing SSH keys in system directories accessible on reboot.

CVSS v4.0

Score 9.4critical

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Vuln. Confidentiality
High
Vuln. Integrity
High
Vuln. Availability
High
Subsq. Confidentiality
High
Subsq. Integrity
High
Subsq. Availability
High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H

Affected software

openwrt

luci

AI-Powered Analysis

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AILast updated: 08/21/2026, 13:05:03 UTC

Technical Analysis

The luci-app-openvpn component of OpenWrt fails to properly validate the instance_name2 parameter during file upload operations. This improper validation allows authenticated users to perform path traversal attacks, enabling them to write files outside the designated upload directory. By leveraging this vulnerability, attackers can upload malicious payloads such as SSH keys into system directories, which can be used to gain persistent root-level code execution after a system reboot.

Potential Impact

Successful exploitation allows an authenticated attacker to write arbitrary files to sensitive system locations, potentially leading to persistent root code execution. This compromises the integrity and security of the affected device, allowing full control by the attacker.

Mitigation Recommendations

Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, restrict access to the luci-app-openvpn interface to trusted users only and monitor for suspicious activity related to file uploads.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.2
Assigner Short Name
VulnCheck
Date Reserved
2026-08-10T15:13:41.486Z
Cvss Version
4.0
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 6a7e4130bf8831d539e05235

Added to database: 08/13/2026, 22:12:00 UTC

Last enriched: 08/21/2026, 13:05:03 UTC

Last updated: 09/29/2026, 01:47:44 UTC

Views: 195

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