CVE-2026-37069 in File Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2026
Absolute Path Disclosure in /vfm-admin/assets/zipstream/grandt/relativepath/RelativePath.Example1.php in Veno File Manager Project 4.4.9 allows an unauthenticated attacker to know in which system directory the application code is running by sending a GET request to the endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as Absolute Path Disclosure in the Veno File Manager Project version 4.4.9 represents a critical information leakage flaw within the administrative interface, specifically located at the /vfm-admin/assets/zipstream/grandt/relativepath/RelativePath.Example1.php endpoint. This issue stems from improper error handling and input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize or suppress detailed system feedback when processing requests involving relative path manipulations. When an unauthenticated attacker sends a GET request to this specific script, the application encounters an internal state where it attempts to resolve file paths but fails due to invalid or malformed inputs. Instead of returning a generic error message such as "File Not Found" or displaying a standard HTTP 400 Bad Request response, the server exposes the full absolute filesystem path on which the PHP code is executing. This behavior indicates that the underlying web server configuration likely has display_errors enabled in a production environment, or the application itself lacks robust exception handling to mask internal implementation details from external observers.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of Information Exposure through Error Messages, commonly classified as CWE-209 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The root cause lies in the developer's assumption that administrative endpoints are sufficiently protected by authentication layers without considering scenarios where automated scanners or attackers might probe for misconfigurations before attempting deeper exploitation. By exposing the absolute path, such as /var/www/html/vfm-admin/assets/zipstream/grandt/relativepath/, the attacker gains precise knowledge of the server's directory structure. This information is not merely cosmetic; it serves as a foundational piece of intelligence that significantly lowers the barrier for subsequent attacks. Knowledge of the exact file system location allows an adversary to craft more accurate payloads for other vulnerabilities, such as Local File Inclusion (LFI) or Remote Code Execution (RCE), by providing the correct base path required for successful exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this disclosure is substantial within the context of a broader attack chain. While the vulnerability itself does not directly allow code execution or data theft, it acts as a critical enabler for further compromise. An attacker can use the disclosed absolute path to map out the server's directory hierarchy, identifying potential targets such as configuration files containing database credentials, backup archives, or other sensitive scripts located in adjacent directories. This aligns with the ATT&CK technique of Discovery via System Information Discovery (T1082), where adversaries gather information about the target environment to facilitate lateral movement and privilege escalation. In many cases, this path disclosure can also aid in bypassing security controls that rely on relative path checks or chroot environments if those boundaries are not strictly enforced at the operating system level.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate remediation steps must focus on both application-level code changes and server configuration hardening. Developers should review the RelativePath.Example1.php script to ensure that all file operations include rigorous validation of input parameters and implement strict allowlists for permitted directory traversals. It is crucial to replace generic error outputs with custom, user-friendly messages that do not reveal internal system details. Furthermore, the web server configuration must be audited to disable display_errors in production environments, ensuring that PHP errors are logged internally rather than displayed to clients. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) can also provide an additional layer of defense by detecting and blocking requests that attempt to exploit path traversal or error-based information leakage patterns. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar oversights in future releases, ensuring that administrative interfaces remain resilient against reconnaissance efforts.