Authenticated file deletion via unvalidated backup path
Published Feb 16, 2026 · Updated Feb 16, 2026
Path traversal in ZenTao 21.7.8 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete server files through the backup handler. The delete() method in module/backup/control.php concatenates the user-controlled fileName into a glob pattern without validation, then recursively removes matching directories or unlinks matching files. A valid session is required, and deletion is limited to filesystem objects writable by the ZenTao process, including multiple prefix matches caused by the appended wildcard.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in ZenTao 21.7.8 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete server files through the backup handler. The delete() method in module/backup/control.php concatenates the user-controlled fileName into a glob pattern without validation, then recursively removes matching directories or unlinks matching files. A valid session is required, and deletion is limited to filesystem objects writable by the ZenTao process, including multiple prefix matches caused by the appended wildcard.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-2551
- Published
- Feb 16, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 16, 2026
- Vendor
- Qingdao Esoft Tianchuang Network Technology Co., Ltd.
- Product
- ZenTao
- Classifications
- CWE-22, T1070.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 16, 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.
- Affected versionversion=21.7.0
- Affected versionversion=21.7.1
- Affected versionversion=21.7.2
- Affected versionversion=21.7.3
- Affected versionversion=21.7.4
- Affected versionversion=21.7.5
- Affected versionversion=21.7.6
- Affected versionversion=21.7.7
- Affected versionversion=21.7.8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- ZenTao Backup Delete Arbitrary File Deletion via Path Traversalproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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