CVE-2026-49970 in laravel-mediable
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2026
Laravel-Mediable before 7.0.0 contains a path traversal vulnerability in the File::sanitizePath() function that allows attackers to write uploaded files to arbitrary locations by controlling the directory argument passed to MediaUploader::toDestination(). Attackers can exploit the permissive character-class regex that allows both dot and slash characters combined with an ineffective trailing trim() call to bypass sanitization and upload files to sensitive locations such as the document root, environment configuration files, or application configuration directories, enabling remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2026
The vulnerability under discussion affects Laravel-Mediable versions prior to 7.0.0 and represents a critical path traversal flaw within the File::sanitizePath() function. This security weakness stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize directory paths during file upload operations. The flaw specifically manifests when attackers can manipulate the directory argument passed to MediaUploader::toDestination(), allowing them to bypass intended security restrictions and write files to arbitrary locations within the application filesystem.
The technical root cause lies in the implementation of a permissive character-class regular expression that inadvertently permits both dot and slash characters within path components. This regex pattern fails to adequately restrict directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ../../, which are commonly used to navigate upward through directory structures. Additionally, the vulnerability is compounded by an ineffective trailing trim() function call that does not properly handle path normalization, leaving the sanitization process vulnerable to manipulation. The combination of these flaws creates a pathway for attackers to construct malicious paths that bypass the intended security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file system access violations and can lead to complete system compromise through remote code execution. Attackers can leverage this flaw to upload malicious files to sensitive locations including web document roots, environment configuration files such as .env, or application configuration directories where they may execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to escalate their privileges from mere file upload capabilities to full system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in production environments.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of common path traversal attacks that align with CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics consistent with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage uploaded malicious files to establish persistent access or execute commands on compromised systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Laravel-Mediable version 7.0.0 or later, where the sanitization logic has been properly enhanced to prevent the inclusion of dangerous path characters and sequences. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file upload validation, restricting write permissions on sensitive directories, and monitoring for unusual file system modifications that may indicate exploitation attempts.