CVE-2026-105683 in Ghost
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. From 6.14.0 until 6.27.0, an input validation issue may have allowed staff users to access local files outside the intended data storage directories on the server. This issue is fixed in version 6.27.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2026
Ghost is a popular open-source content management system built on Node.js that powers numerous blogs and media websites globally. In versions ranging from 6.14.0 to 6.27.0, the application contained an input validation vulnerability within its file handling mechanisms. This flaw specifically affected staff-level users, who are typically granted elevated privileges for managing content but not necessarily full server access. The core technical issue stemmed from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied filenames or paths when interacting with local storage operations. By manipulating these inputs, a malicious actor could bypass directory restrictions intended to confine file uploads and retrievals to specific data directories. This lack of strict path validation allowed the system to resolve relative or absolute paths that pointed outside the designated safe zones on the server's filesystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it constitutes an unauthorized information disclosure vector. An attacker with staff credentials could exploit this flaw to read arbitrary files from the server, potentially accessing sensitive configuration files such as database connection strings containing plaintext passwords, environment variables holding API keys or secret tokens, and other internal system files that are not meant for public consumption. This capability effectively elevates a user's privileges beyond their intended scope by granting them access to critical infrastructure data without requiring direct shell access or exploitation of higher-level remote code execution flaws. The ability to exfiltrate such information can serve as a stepping stone for further attacks, including credential stuffing against backend services or deeper compromise of the hosting environment if sensitive keys are exposed.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as path traversal. It also relates to CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials if the accessed files contain hardcoded secrets, and potentially CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor. In terms of attack vectors, this behavior is consistent with techniques found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under Data from Local System Retrieval or Unsecured Credentials, where adversaries seek to gather intelligence about the target environment through file system access rather than direct exploitation of network services. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict input validation and canonicalization checks when handling user-controlled paths in server-side applications.
Mitigation for this issue is straightforward as it has been addressed in version 6.27.0 and all subsequent releases. Administrators running Ghost instances within the affected range must upgrade to the latest stable version immediately to patch the path traversal flaw. Beyond upgrading, organizations should enforce strict least-privilege principles by ensuring that staff accounts have only the permissions necessary for their specific roles, minimizing the blast radius if an account is compromised. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with rules designed to detect and block common path traversal patterns can provide a layer of defense in depth, although reliance on such controls should not replace proper code-level fixes. Regular security audits and static analysis tools that flag unsafe file operations are recommended practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced during future development cycles.