CVE-2026-70592 in Ghost
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2026
Ghost is a Node.js content management system. From 1.20.1 until 6.54.1, an Administrator-level user could remotely overwrite certain files on the filesystem through the database backup filename, leading to integrity and availability issues. The database export endpoint failed to reject path separators in the caller-supplied filename. This issue is fixed in version 6.54.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2026
The Ghost content management system suffered from a critical file system manipulation vulnerability affecting versions 1.20.1 through 6.54.1. This flaw allowed authenticated administrator users to exploit a path traversal condition within the database backup functionality, enabling them to overwrite arbitrary files on the target filesystem. The vulnerability stemmed from insufficient input validation in the database export endpoint where the system failed to properly sanitize user-supplied filenames containing path separators such as forward slashes or backslashes. This design oversight created a direct pathway for privilege escalation and file system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common path traversal flaws classified under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. Attackers could leverage this weakness by crafting malicious backup filenames containing directory traversal sequences like "../" or "\\..\\", allowing them to navigate outside the intended backup directory and target sensitive system files. The impact extended beyond mere data corruption as it enabled potential denial of service conditions through critical file overwrites, while simultaneously compromising data integrity by allowing unauthorized modification of system components.
Operationally, this vulnerability presented a severe risk to Ghost installations since it required only administrator-level access to exploit, which is typically limited within well-configured environments. However, the consequences were devastating as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise through replacement of core application files, database schema modifications, or even the installation of persistent backdoors. The attack surface was particularly concerning given that administrators often have elevated privileges and may not be adequately protected against such internal threats. Organizations running Ghost versions within the affected range faced potential data loss, service disruption, and possible unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the database.
Mitigation strategies should have included immediate patching to version 6.54.1 which addressed the input validation issue by properly sanitizing user-supplied filenames before processing them in the file system context. Additionally, organizations should have implemented robust file access controls and monitoring of backup operations to detect anomalous file system activities. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate system tools, as well as T1486 related to data encryption for ransomware. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should have been enforced to limit the potential impact of compromised administrator credentials, while regular security assessments could have identified this vulnerability during routine penetration testing or code review processes.