Authenticated file overwrite via unchecked file_path
Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Arbitrary file write in Wazuh before 4.14.6 and before 5.0.0-beta3 allows remote authenticated users to overwrite files via cluster sync metadata. In the non-merged branch of process_files_from_worker() in framework/wazuh/core/cluster/master.py, the manager uses the peer-controlled file_path key from files_metadata.json as the destination under WAZUH_PATH and moves the uploaded archive entry there without checking that the resolved path stays within the directory selected by cluster_item_key. Exploitation requires control of a cluster peer and the shared Fernet key, and overwriting etc/ossec.conf can configure root-executed commands and reach code execution after a service reload.
Summary
What happened
Arbitrary file write in Wazuh before 4.14.6 and before 5.0.0-beta3 allows remote authenticated users to overwrite files via cluster sync metadata. In the non-merged branch of process_files_from_worker() in framework/wazuh/core/cluster/master.py, the manager uses the peer-controlled file_path key from files_metadata.json as the destination under WAZUH_PATH and moves the uploaded archive entry there without checking that the resolved path stays within the directory selected by cluster_item_key. Exploitation requires control of a cluster peer and the shared Fernet key, and overwriting etc/ossec.conf can configure root-executed commands and reach code execution after a service reload.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-49441
- Published
- Aug 19, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Wazuh
- Product
- Wazuh
- Classifications
- CWE-73
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=>= 4.3.0, < 4.14.6
- Affected versionversion=>= 5.0.0-beta1, < 5.0.0-beta3
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
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
- h3_ossec_overwrite.py proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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