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VulnerabilityPublished

CVE-2026-55086: ep_etherpad-lite · Import/export uses Math.random() for temp file paths; predictable paths on shared /tmp enable symlink-based file overwrite

Affects ep_etherpad-liteSource GCVE Database

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Authoritative record:CVE-2026-55086· Medium 4.2

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 4.2 Medium : upgrade to 3.1.0 when convenient.

Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 23:24 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
4.2Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 3.1.0
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Exploitation evidence

t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 19 Aug 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: evidence found.

    CISA SSVC: proof of concept public

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

Timeline

  1. CVE ID reserved

    by GitHub, Inc.

    , 64 days before disclosure

  2. CVE published

    on cve.org

    , t = 0

  3. CISA SSVC assessment

    proof of concept public

    , 6 days after disclosure

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA SSVC, the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 11 Nov 2026.

What to do

Upgrade ep_etherpad-lite to 3.1.0.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
npmep_etherpad-liteAffected
  • <3.1.0
Fixed in
  • 3.1.0

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

Upgrade Etherpad-lite to version 3.1.0 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. The fix removes the use of predictable Math.random() for temporary filenames, preventing symlink-based overwrites. No other mitigation is required if the upgrade is applied.

Description

Etherpad-lite versions prior to 3.1.0 use Math.random() to generate temporary filenames for import/export operations in a shared temporary directory. This allows a local unprivileged attacker to predict these filenames and create symbolic links that cause the Etherpad process to overwrite arbitrary files with attacker-controlled content. The vulnerability is fixed in version 3.1.0.

References

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