CVE-2026-65689 in Standalone Report Designer
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
Bold Reports Standalone Report Designer before 14.1.12 contains a missing filepath validation vulnerability in its database download feature that allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem by supplying a crafted request. Attackers can exploit this path traversal weakness to disclose sensitive server files, including authentication credentials, enabling full unauthorized access to the application.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
The vulnerability exists within Bold Reports Standalone Report Designer version 14.1.12 and earlier, presenting a critical path traversal flaw in its database download functionality. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied file paths during database export operations. The missing filepath validation allows attackers to manipulate request parameters to navigate beyond intended directories and access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. Security researchers have identified this as a classic path traversal vulnerability that directly violates security controls designed to prevent unauthorized file system access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted HTTP requests that include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ in the file path parameters. When the application processes these malformed requests without proper validation, it executes the file reading operations against the specified paths, effectively bypassing normal access controls and authorization mechanisms. This flaw operates at the application layer and does not require authentication credentials to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can directly target sensitive system files including configuration databases, credential stores, and application logs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that mandate proper input sanitization and access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract database connection strings, encryption keys, user credential files, and other sensitive artifacts that could facilitate lateral movement within the network. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might gain access to administrative accounts, application configuration files containing secrets, or even operating system level credentials stored in configuration files. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that allows attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems while potentially escalating privileges through the acquisition of additional sensitive information.
Organizations utilizing Bold Reports Standalone Report Designer should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to version 14.1.12 or later, which includes proper input validation and path sanitization mechanisms. Security teams must implement network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, deploy web application firewalls with path traversal detection capabilities, and conduct thorough file system audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and highlights the critical importance of validating all user inputs at multiple layers of application architecture. Mitigation strategies should include mandatory code reviews focusing on input validation patterns, implementation of automated security scanning tools, and establishment of proper access control policies that align with defense-in-depth principles recommended by the mitre attack framework. Organizations should also consider implementing file system monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized file access patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing path traversal attacks.