CVE-2026-81849Network attack vector

Root code execution via crafted S3 object keys

Published Aug 28, 2026 · Updated Aug 28, 2026

Path traversal in AWS Systems Manager Agent before 3.3.4515.0 allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary files as root. The aws:downloadContent plugin accepts crafted S3 object keys without confining their resolved paths to the document's target download directory. Access requires ssm:SendCommand permission for AWS-DownloadContent; overwriting a sensitive file enables arbitrary code execution as root.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.57%
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 AWS Systems Manager Agent before 3.3.4515.0 allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary files as root. The aws:downloadContent plugin accepts crafted S3 object keys without confining their resolved paths to the document's target download directory. Access requires ssm:SendCommand permission for AWS-DownloadContent; overwriting a sensitive file enables arbitrary code execution as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-81849
Published
Aug 28, 2026
Updated
Aug 28, 2026
Vendor
Amazon Web Services
Product
AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent)
Classifications
CWE-23, CAPEC-126, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 28, 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 <3.3.4515.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Amazon Web Services · AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent)version=0 <3.3.4515.0

Published CVSS scores

8.7GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
8.8Amazon Web ServicesCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-23Relative Path Traversal
CAPEC-126Path Traversal
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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