CVE-2026-53416 in Workplace VDI Client for Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
Path traversal in Zoom VDI Client and Plugins may allow an authenticated user to conduct information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw affecting Zoom VDI Client and its associated plugins, where authenticated users with local system access can exploit improper input validation mechanisms to disclose sensitive information from arbitrary file paths. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the client application's file handling routines, allowing attackers to manipulate file access paths through specially crafted parameters or file references that bypass normal security controls.
The technical implementation of this flaw typically involves the exploitation of insecure direct object references where the application directly uses user-controllable inputs to construct file paths without proper validation or normalization. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing malicious path sequences such as ../ or ..\ that traverse the file system hierarchy to access files outside the intended directory boundaries. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category for Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal or Directory Traversal.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables authenticated users with local access to potentially extract confidential data including configuration files, user credentials, system logs, and other sensitive information stored on the client system. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that Zoom VDI clients are often deployed in enterprise environments where they may have access to restricted network resources or contain proprietary information. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it requires only local authentication, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially exploit this weakness without requiring additional network-level privileges.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) tactics, where adversaries seek to enumerate system resources and extract sensitive data. The attack chain typically involves establishing a local session on the target system, identifying vulnerable components within the Zoom VDI client, and then executing crafted file access operations that traverse to restricted directories. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in virtual desktop infrastructure environments where multiple users may share or access similar client configurations.
Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the client application's file handling code, enforcing strict path normalization routines, and applying principle of least privilege access controls to prevent unauthorized file system access. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of vendor-provided security updates and conduct regular vulnerability assessments specifically targeting client-side applications in VDI environments. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while user awareness training should emphasize the importance of maintaining secure local access controls and reporting suspicious activities.