CVE-2026-44615 in Zeppelin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/31/2026
Path traversal vulnerability in Apache Zeppelin. When FileSystemNotebookRepo is configured, an authenticated attacker with permission to rename a note, or access to folder operations, could supply traversal segments in note or folder paths. Zeppelin composed these values into filesystem paths using the server's filesystem or Hadoop identity without ensuring that the result remained under the configured notebook directory. This could allow notebook files or directories to be moved, written, or deleted outside the notebook root. This issue affects Apache Zeppelin versions 0.9.0 through 0.12.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 0.12.1, which fixes this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2026
Apache Zeppelin contains a critical path traversal vulnerability that arises from improper input validation in the FileSystemNotebookRepo component. This vulnerability affects versions 0.9.0 through 0.12.0 and stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied paths when constructing filesystem operations. The flaw occurs when authenticated users with note renaming permissions or folder access rights provide traversal segments such as "../" in note or folder path names. When these unvalidated inputs are directly incorporated into filesystem paths using either the server's native filesystem or Hadoop identity mechanisms, they can bypass directory restrictions and execute unauthorized file operations outside the designated notebook root directory.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's construction of absolute filesystem paths without proper boundary checking or canonicalization. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can manipulate file system operations to access restricted resources. The vulnerability enables an authenticated attacker to perform arbitrary file system operations including moving, writing, or deleting files beyond the intended notebook directory scope, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the application has elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with a means to manipulate the entire notebook repository structure. An attacker could potentially overwrite critical configuration files, inject malicious code into notebooks, or even delete entire directories of user content. The attack vector requires authentication but not elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where notebook ownership and access controls may be misconfigured. Additionally, since this affects the core notebook management functionality, it can disrupt normal operations while providing attackers with persistent access to the system through compromised notebook files.
Organizations using affected Apache Zeppelin versions should immediately implement the recommended upgrade to version 0.12.1 which includes proper path validation and canonicalization measures. In addition to upgrading, administrators should review existing notebook permissions and implement stricter access controls to limit the scope of users who can perform renaming or folder operations. The fix implemented in version 0.12.1 addresses this vulnerability by ensuring that all user-supplied paths are properly validated against the configured notebook root directory before any filesystem operations are executed, preventing traversal beyond the intended boundaries. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious path patterns and conducting regular audits of notebook repository structures to detect potential exploitation attempts.