CVE-2026-44301Network attack vector

Arbitrary file access via unrestricted Node tools

Published May 12, 2026 · Updated May 12, 2026

Path traversal in Hugo 0.43.0 through versions before 0.161.0 allows context-dependent attackers to read or write host files via Node asset pipelines. The build path launches configured PostCSS, Babel, or TailwindCSS processes without constraining their file-system permissions to the site source tree. Exploitation requires a user or automation to build an untrusted site that invokes one of those tools; builds using no Node asset pipeline or only trusted sites are unaffected.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Hugo 0.43.0 through versions before 0.161.0 allows context-dependent attackers to read or write host files via Node asset pipelines. The build path launches configured PostCSS, Babel, or TailwindCSS processes without constraining their file-system permissions to the site source tree. Exploitation requires a user or automation to build an untrusted site that invokes one of those tools; builds using no Node asset pipeline or only trusted sites are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-44301
Published
May 12, 2026
Updated
May 12, 2026
Vendor
Hugo Authors
Product
Hugo
Classifications
CWE-22, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 12, 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=>= 0.43.0, < 0.161.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Hugo Authors · Hugoversion=>= 0.43.0, < 0.161.0

Published CVSS scores

8.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.2GitHub, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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