Authenticated file disclosure via prefix-collision symlinks
Published Apr 15, 2026 · Updated Apr 15, 2026
Path traversal in Weblate before 5.17 allows remote authenticated users to read files outside repository boundaries through crafted symlinks. Repository discovery and VCS paths compare resolved absolute paths with startswith, so a sibling path such as repo_outside passes as though it were inside repo. A low-privileged account able to configure or trigger repository discovery can expose readable host files through the translation workflow without altering them.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in Weblate before 5.17 allows remote authenticated users to read files outside repository boundaries through crafted symlinks. Repository discovery and VCS paths compare resolved absolute paths with startswith, so a sibling path such as repo_outside passes as though it were inside repo. A low-privileged account able to configure or trigger repository discovery can expose readable host files through the translation workflow without altering them.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-40256
- Published
- Apr 15, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 15, 2026
- Vendor
- Weblate
- Product
- Weblate
- Classifications
- CWE-22, T1005
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 15, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=< 5.17
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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