CVE-2026-105676 in Ghost
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. From 1.20.0 until 6.64.0, a vulnerability in how Ghost loads theme translation files allowed an authenticated Administrator to read JSON files outside of the active theme's directory, potentially exposing server configuration secrets. This issue is fixed in version 6.64.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within the core architecture of Ghost, a popular Node.js-based content management system widely used for blogging and publishing platforms. Specifically affecting versions from 1.20.0 through 6.64.0, this flaw stems from an improper restriction on file path resolution when loading theme translation files. The application fails to adequately validate the canonical paths of requested resources before processing them, creating a classic directory traversal weakness that allows for unauthorized access to sensitive system data.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. This category encompasses flaws where an application does not properly neutralize special elements such as dot-dot-slash sequences in user-supplied file names or URLs that can resolve to a parent directory rather than the designated sandboxed area. In this specific instance, an authenticated Administrator could manipulate input parameters related to theme localization files to traverse up the filesystem hierarchy using relative path notation. By constructing malicious requests with carefully crafted paths containing multiple ../ sequences, the attacker bypasses the intended isolation boundary of the active theme's directory structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to the high privilege level required for exploitation and the sensitivity of the data exposed. While an authenticated Administrator account is needed to trigger the flaw, such accounts are often targeted by threat actors who have already compromised user credentials through phishing or credential stuffing attacks. Once exploited, the attacker can read arbitrary JSON files from the server's filesystem. This capability potentially exposes critical configuration secrets, including database connection strings containing plaintext passwords, API keys for third-party services like Stripe or SendGrid, and internal application settings that could facilitate further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries explore local file systems to gather information necessary for subsequent stages of an attack chain. The ability to read configuration files is often a precursor to privilege escalation or data exfiltration campaigns. Although Ghost version 6.64.0 has released patches that enforce strict path validation and canonicalization checks before serving any theme assets, organizations running older versions remain at risk if they have not yet applied the update.
To mitigate this vulnerability, administrators must ensure their Ghost instances are upgraded to version 6.64.0 or later immediately upon availability of security updates in subsequent releases. Additionally, it is recommended to implement strict file permission policies on the server hosting the application, ensuring that web processes run under a restricted user account with minimal read access outside of necessary directories. Regular audits of configuration files for hardcoded secrets and the use of environment variables for sensitive data can further reduce the impact if such traversal vulnerabilities are discovered in future versions. Monitoring logs for unusual file access patterns involving path traversal characters can also aid in early detection of exploitation attempts.