CVE-2026-79986: CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in Apache Software Foundation Apache Camel
Description
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in Apache Camel Azure Files component. This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.0.0 before 4.18.5, from 4.19.0 before 4.22.1. The Camel remote-file consumers poll a directory on a remote server and build the absolute remote path of each file by concatenating the configured directory with the file name reported in the server's directory listing. That concatenation (FtpUtils.absoluteFilePath and GenericFileConsumer) applied no lexical normalization and no check that the result stayed inside the directory being polled, and the resulting path became the operand for every subsequent remote operation on the file: retrieval (FtpOperations.retrieveFile / SftpOperations, reached from GenericFileConsumer where the retrieve name is taken verbatim from GenericFile.getAbsoluteFilePath), deletion when delete=true (GenericFileDeleteProcessStrategy), and renaming when move, preMove, moveFailed or readLock=rename is configured (GenericFileProcessStrategySupport and GenericFileRenameExclusiveReadLockStrategy). Neither isValidFile nor isMatched performed any containment check. A listing entry that is not a single path segment therefore resolved to a path outside the configured polling directory, causing Camel to read, delete or rename files outside it using the endpoint's own credentials. A listing name is not route-controlled data. It is supplied by the remote server, and the FTP control channel carries no integrity protection at all, so an on-path attacker can rewrite a LIST response without holding any credentials; a compromised, malicious or multi-tenant server, or a server backed by a virtual filesystem, can emit such a name directly. Retrieval is reachable in a default consumer configuration, since the remote consumers download every listed file; deletion and renaming additionally require one of the disposition options above, all of which are common. Escape from the directory Camel was configured to poll is unconditional, while escape from the server's own account boundary additionally depends on whether that server confines the account. The jailStartingDirectory option, which is documented as restricting Camel to the starting directory and is enabled by default, governed producer writes and, since the localWorkDirectory containment work, consumer downloads to the local work directory - but it did not constrain this remote operand, so its name and description claimed a boundary that was not enforced here. The same entry point had already been recognised on the local side: the localWorkDirectory download path was constrained so that a remote file name containing parent-directory segments could not resolve outside the local work directory. The remote operand was the remaining half of that surface. This artifact provides the azure-files scheme. Its consumer derives from the same RemoteFileConsumer base class and composed the remote path through a plain concatenation helper, so it inherited the same unconstrained resolution. Reaching it requires a listing name that is not a single path segment, which the Azure Files REST service does not normally return; the exposure was corrected on the same basis as the other remote-file consumers rather than from a demonstrated proof of concept against this scheme. Upgrade to Apache Camel 4.23.0, which fixes the issue. Users on the 4.22.x releases stream should upgrade to 4.22.1. Users on the 4.18.x LTS releases stream should upgrade to 4.18.5. The 4.14.x stream reached end of life and does not receive this fix; users on it should move to a supported releases stream.
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.4high
Affected software
Apache Software Foundation
Apache Camel
pkg:maven/Apache Software Foundation/org.apache.camel:camel-azure-filesRun 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
Apache Camel remote-file consumers build absolute remote file paths by concatenating the configured directory with file names from the remote server's directory listing without lexical normalization or containment checks. This flaw allows path traversal, enabling operations such as retrieval, deletion, or renaming on files outside the configured directory using the endpoint's credentials. The vulnerability affects the Azure Files component as well, which inherited this behavior. The issue is exploitable because the FTP control channel lacks integrity protection, allowing an on-path attacker or malicious server to supply crafted directory listings. The vulnerability is fixed in Apache Camel 4.18.5, 4.22.1, and 4.23.0.
Potential Impact
An attacker who can manipulate the directory listing returned by the remote server can cause Apache Camel to access, delete, or rename files outside the intended directory on the remote server. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure and modification of files with the privileges of the Camel endpoint. The vulnerability does not affect availability. Exploitation requires the ability to intercept or control the remote server's directory listing responses. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.4 (High), reflecting network attack vector, high impact on confidentiality and integrity, and no privileges or user interaction required.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available. Users should upgrade to Apache Camel 4.18.5 if on the 4.18.x LTS stream, 4.22.1 if on the 4.22.x stream, or 4.23.0 for later versions. The 4.14.x stream is end-of-life and does not receive this fix; users should migrate to a supported release. The vendor advisory confirms these fixed versions. No additional mitigations are specified beyond upgrading.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- apache
- Date Reserved
- 2026-08-25T16:20:32.604Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Is Cloud Service
- true
Threat ID: 6ad5f5a22cdf04f656435567
Added to database: 10/19/2026, 10:49:06 UTC
Last enriched: 10/19/2026, 11:03:33 UTC
Last updated: 10/19/2026, 19:06:46 UTC
Views: 8
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