CVE-2026-86538: CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in knowns-dev knowns
Description
knowns versions before 0.30.0 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the POST /api/templates/preview endpoint that allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files. Attackers can supply directory traversal sequences in the templateFile parameter to bypass path restrictions and read sensitive files like credentials and configuration through the JSON response.
CVSS v4.0
Score 8.7high
Affected software
knowns-dev
knowns
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Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-86538 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in knowns versions prior to 0.30.0. The vulnerability exists in the POST /api/templates/preview endpoint, where the templateFile parameter does not properly restrict pathname input. Attackers can exploit this by including directory traversal sequences to bypass path restrictions and read arbitrary files on the server. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive information through the JSON response. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, indicating high severity, with no privileges or user interaction required for exploitation.
Potential Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can read arbitrary files on the affected system, including sensitive credentials and configuration files. This can lead to information disclosure that may facilitate further attacks or compromise of the system.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or fix is currently documented. Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint and monitor for suspicious activity related to path traversal attempts.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- VulnCheck
- Date Reserved
- 2026-09-07T22:18:47.017Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a9f43bfacd9273b497857d3
Added to database: 09/07/2026, 23:07:43 UTC
Last enriched: 09/25/2026, 02:48:12 UTC
Last updated: 10/22/2026, 13:15:24 UTC
Views: 100
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