CVE-2026-5656Public exploit

Code execution via unchecked profile ZIP paths

Published Apr 30, 2026 · Updated Apr 30, 2026

Path traversal in Wireshark 4.4.0 through 4.4.14 and 4.6.0 through 4.6.4 allows local users to crash it or execute code via a crafted profile. WiresharkZipHelper::unzip() appends attacker-controlled ZIP entry names to the extraction directory without verifying that each resolved path remains inside it, allowing files to be written outside the profile area. Code execution requires a user to import the archive and relaunch Wireshark after a Lua plugin is planted in the per-user plugin directory; malformed content can instead crash the application.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.18%
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 Wireshark 4.4.0 through 4.4.14 and 4.6.0 through 4.6.4 allows local users to crash it or execute code via a crafted profile. WiresharkZipHelper::unzip() appends attacker-controlled ZIP entry names to the extraction directory without verifying that each resolved path remains inside it, allowing files to be written outside the profile area. Code execution requires a user to import the archive and relaunch Wireshark after a Lua plugin is planted in the per-user plugin directory; malformed content can instead crash the application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-5656
Published
Apr 30, 2026
Updated
Apr 30, 2026
Vendor
Wireshark Foundation
Product
Wireshark
Classifications
CWE-22, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 30, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 30, 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=4.4.0 <4.4.15
  2. Affected versionversion=4.6.0 <4.6.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Wireshark Foundation · Wiresharkversion=4.4.0 <4.4.15; version=4.6.0 <4.6.5

Published CVSS scores

7.0GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

Public exploit references

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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