Arbitrary file read via unsanitized SSI includes
Published Aug 20, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026
Path traversal in Cesanta Mongoose before 7.22 allows remote authenticated users to read process-accessible files through SSI includes. The mg_ssi() function in src/ssi.c concatenates an untrusted file or virtual directive argument into a filesystem path without mg_path_is_sane() validation. Exploitation requires MG_ENABLE_SSI, a configured ssi_pattern, and attacker control of an SSI-enabled file; disclosure is limited to files readable by the Mongoose process.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in Cesanta Mongoose before 7.22 allows remote authenticated users to read process-accessible files through SSI includes. The mg_ssi() function in src/ssi.c concatenates an untrusted file or virtual directive argument into a filesystem path without mg_path_is_sane() validation. Exploitation requires MG_ENABLE_SSI, a configured ssi_pattern, and attacker control of an SSI-enabled file; disclosure is limited to files readable by the Mongoose process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-73255
- Published
- Aug 20, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- Vendor
- Cesanta
- Product
- Mongoose
- Classifications
- CWE-22, T1005
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 25, 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=< 7.22
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
- Mongoose SSI path traversal proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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