CVE-2026-23942Network attack vectorHinoki check available

SFTP root escape via prefix-only path validation

Published Mar 13, 2026 · Updated Mar 13, 2026

Path traversal in the ssh_sftpd module of Erlang/OTP allows remote authenticated users to read or write files outside a configured SFTP root. The ssh_sftpd:is_within_root/2 routine treats lists:prefix/2 string matches as path containment, so same-prefix sibling names pass validation. Exploitation requires an enabled, reachable SFTP subsystem, a configured root, and a sibling readable or writable by the Erlang VM.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in the ssh_sftpd module of Erlang/OTP allows remote authenticated users to read or write files outside a configured SFTP root. The ssh_sftpd:is_within_root/2 routine treats lists:prefix/2 string matches as path containment, so same-prefix sibling names pass validation. Exploitation requires an enabled, reachable SFTP subsystem, a configured root, and a sibling readable or writable by the Erlang VM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23942
Published
Mar 13, 2026
Updated
Mar 13, 2026
Vendor
Erlang
Product
Erlang/OTP
Classifications
CWE-22, CAPEC-126, T1005, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <* changes=[{"at":"27688a824f753d4c16371dc70e88753fb410590b","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"9e0ac85d3485e7898e0da88a14be0ee2310a3b28","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"5ed603a1211b83b8be2d1fc06d3f3bf30c3c9759","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=17.0 <* changes=[{"at":"28.4.1","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"27.3.4.9","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"26.2.5.18","status":"unaffected"}]
  3. Affected versionversion=3.0.1 <* changes=[{"at":"5.5.1","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"5.2.11.6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"5.1.4.14","status":"unaffected"}]
  4. Affected versionversion=pkg:otp/[email protected] <pkg:otp/ssh@* changes=[{"at":"pkg:otp/[email protected]","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"pkg:otp/[email protected]","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"pkg:otp/[email protected]","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Erlang · Erlang/OTPversion=0 <* changes=[{"at":"27688a824f753d4c16371dc70e88753fb410590b","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"9e0ac85d3485e7898e0da88a14be0ee2310a3b28","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"5ed603a1211b83b8be2d1fc06d3f3bf30c3c9759","status":"unaffected"}]; version=17.0 <* changes=[{"at":"28.4.1","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"27.3.4.9","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"26.2.5.18","status":"unaffected"}]; version=3.0.1 <* changes=[{"at":"5.5.1","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"5.2.11.6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"5.1.4.14","status":"unaffected"}]; version=pkg:otp/[email protected] <pkg:otp/ssh@* changes=[{"at":"pkg:otp/[email protected]","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"pkg:otp/[email protected]","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"pkg:otp/[email protected]","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

5.3Erlang Ecosystem FoundationCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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.

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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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CAPEC-126Path Traversal
T1005Data from Local System
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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