CVE-2026-62096 in Biolife Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/10/2026
Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion in Biolife <= 3.2.3 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unauthenticated local file inclusion flaw within Biolife versions up to and including 3.2.3 represents a critical security deficiency that allows attackers to read arbitrary files from the underlying server operating system without requiring any form of authentication or user interaction. This type of vulnerability typically arises when a web application fails to properly validate, sanitize, or filter user-supplied input before using it as an argument for file inclusion functions such as include(), require(), or their equivalents in various programming languages like PHP, Python, or Java. In the specific context of Biolife, which is often deployed as a content management system or a specialized web application framework, this flaw likely stems from dynamic path construction where user-controlled parameters directly influence the location of included files without adequate boundary checks against directory traversal sequences such as dot-dot-slash characters.
From a technical perspective, the exploitation mechanism relies on the ability to manipulate request parameters that are subsequently passed into file handling routines. By injecting specific payload strings containing relative or absolute paths followed by null bytes or encoding tricks depending on the server environment, an attacker can redirect the execution flow away from intended application files and toward sensitive system resources. This capability effectively bypasses standard access controls because the vulnerability exists at a layer prior to authentication checks, allowing unauthenticated actors to probe the file system structure. The impact of this flaw is severe as it facilitates unauthorized data disclosure, enabling the extraction of configuration files that may contain database credentials, API keys, and other secrets necessary for further compromise of the infrastructure.
The operational impact extends beyond simple information leakage. Once an attacker gains access to sensitive configuration files or source code through local file inclusion, they can analyze the application logic to identify additional attack vectors such as remote code execution vulnerabilities. For instance, if log files are included dynamically and contain user-controlled data, this could lead to a more dangerous server-side request forgery or command injection scenario depending on how the included content is processed by the web server. Furthermore, access to system-level configuration files can reveal network topology details, internal service endpoints, and security policies that aid in lateral movement within a compromised network environment. This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-98 Improper Control of Filename for Include Statement which highlights the failure to validate input used in file inclusion operations, thereby allowing attackers to control the flow of execution by including unintended files.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary corrective action involves upgrading Biolife to a version where this vulnerability has been patched by the vendor, ensuring that all dynamic includes are replaced with static references or strictly validated inputs using allowlists rather than denylists. Developers should implement strict input validation mechanisms that reject any path traversal sequences and ensure that file inclusion operations rely on predefined constants or whitelisted directories exclusively. Additionally, web server configurations should be hardened to prevent directory listing and restrict access to sensitive system files through proper permission settings and firewall rules. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools should be employed during the development lifecycle to detect similar patterns early. This issue also maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, as exploitation of this flaw enables attackers to enumerate and access critical files on the target system, underscoring the need for robust input validation and secure coding practices across all web applications handling file operations.