CVE-2023-22726Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Host file read and overwrite via path traversal

Published Jan 20, 2023 · Updated Mar 10, 2025

Path traversal in the Nektos act artifact server before 0.2.40 allows remote authenticated users to read and overwrite host files. The /upload and /artifact handlers pass user-controlled paths to filesystem operations without confining resolution to the artifact directory. Exploitation requires control of a workflow run and the non-default --artifact-server-path option; successful requests expose or alter files accessible to the act process.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Path traversal in the Nektos act artifact server before 0.2.40 allows remote authenticated users to read and overwrite host files. The /upload and /artifact handlers pass user-controlled paths to filesystem operations without confining resolution to the artifact directory. Exploitation requires control of a workflow run and the non-default --artifact-server-path option; successful requests expose or alter files accessible to the act process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-22726
Published
Jan 20, 2023
Updated
Mar 10, 2025
Vendor
Nektos
Product
act
Classifications
CWE-434, CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 10, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.2.40

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Nektos · actversion=< 0.2.40

Published CVSS scores

8.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo