CVE-2026-24970 in Energox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/25/2026
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in designingmedia Energox energox allows Path Traversal.This issue affects Energox: from n/a through <= 1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-24970 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the designingmedia Energox energox application, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through version 1.2. This weakness falls under the well-documented category of improper limitation of pathname to a restricted directory, a classification that maps directly to CWE-22 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or restrict file path references, allowing malicious actors to manipulate directory traversal sequences and access files outside the intended restricted directories. Such path traversal vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they can enable unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, configuration files, and potentially sensitive data stored within the application's file system. The issue manifests when the application processes user-supplied input that contains directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, which should be properly validated and filtered before being used in file system operations. The affected Energox application appears to lack proper access controls and input sanitization measures that would normally prevent such malicious path manipulation attempts, creating a significant security gap that could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to the underlying system resources.
The operational impact of this path traversal vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or compromise the entire application environment. When exploited, this vulnerability allows adversaries to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files that should remain restricted, including but not limited to configuration files, database files, application source code, and system credentials. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could leverage path traversal to access system binaries or scripts that could then be executed to gain further control. Additionally, this weakness could facilitate data exfiltration attacks where sensitive information is systematically harvested from the compromised system. The vulnerability's scope within Energox version 1.2 and earlier suggests that the application's file handling mechanisms were not properly secured against common attack patterns, leaving the system exposed to various forms of exploitation including potential remote code execution if the application has sufficient privileges to read and execute files from the affected paths.
Mitigation strategies for this path traversal vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and implement comprehensive defensive measures to prevent similar issues in the future. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization protocols that filter out or reject any input containing directory traversal sequences before they are processed by the application's file system operations. The implementation of a robust whitelist approach for file access, where only explicitly allowed file paths are permitted, provides the most effective defense against such attacks. Additionally, the application should be configured with least privilege principles, ensuring that it operates with minimal necessary permissions and cannot access sensitive system directories. Security patches should be implemented immediately to upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability, and comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code review should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses throughout the application's codebase. The remediation process should also include implementing proper logging and monitoring mechanisms to detect and alert on suspicious file access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and adherence to secure coding practices, such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices, should be maintained to prevent the introduction of similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. Organizations utilizing Energox should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed audit trails for forensic analysis if incidents occur.