CVE-2026-87983 in Mistral Vibe
Summary
by MITRE • 09/11/2026
An arbitrary file read vulnerability in Mistral Vibe, introduced in version 2.6.0, allows an attacker to bypass workspace restrictions using quoted absolute paths in allowlisted shell commands. Improper handling of quotation marks during path validation enables files outside the active workspace to be read without user approval.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-XXXXX within Mistral Vibe versions 2.6.0 and potentially later releases represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper input validation of file path arguments passed through shell commands. This arbitrary file read vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to bypass the application's workspace isolation mechanisms, which are designed to restrict user access strictly to files contained within their designated project directories. The core technical issue lies in how the software processes quoted absolute paths when executing allowlisted shell commands. Specifically, the validation logic fails to adequately sanitize or verify that the resolved file path remains within the permitted boundaries of the active workspace after quote characters are processed by the underlying operating system's command interpreter.
From a technical perspective, this flaw exploits the behavior of standard Unix-like shells where quotation marks can alter how arguments are parsed and interpreted. When an attacker provides a quoted absolute path such as "/etc/passwd" or another sensitive system file within a shell command that is otherwise permitted by the application's allowlist, the software may incorrectly assume the path is valid because it matches certain patterns before quote resolution occurs. Once the shell executes the command, the quotes are stripped or processed in a way that allows the operating system to access files located outside the sandboxed workspace environment. This bypass of directory traversal protections effectively neutralizes the security boundary intended by the application's architecture, granting unauthorized read access to arbitrary locations on the host file system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any organization relying on Mistral Vibe for secure code analysis or data processing workflows. An attacker with access to the application can exfiltrate sensitive configuration files, source code from other projects, credentials stored in local directories, and potentially kernel-level information depending on the privileges under which the service runs. This capability directly compromises the confidentiality of intellectual property and proprietary data managed within the platform. Furthermore, because the vulnerability relies on allowlisted commands, it may evade basic intrusion detection systems that monitor for known malicious command signatures, making stealthy exploitation possible without triggering immediate alerts based solely on command syntax analysis.
This flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which describes scenarios where software does not properly validate input paths against expected directories. Additionally, the attack vector corresponds to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, as it enables an adversary to enumerate and access files outside their authorized scope. The exploitation method also reflects aspects of CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (OS Command Injection), specifically regarding the mishandling of special characters like quotation marks during command construction.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate patching to a version later than 2.6.0 is required if available from the vendor. In environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement strict input validation at the application layer that ensures all file paths are resolved and verified against an allowlist of permitted directories before being passed to any shell execution function. It is critical to avoid passing user-supplied input directly into system commands without rigorous sanitization or using safe APIs that do not invoke a shell interpreter for simple file operations. Additionally, running the application with minimal privileges limits the potential damage by restricting access to sensitive system files even if the workspace boundary is breached. Regular security audits of command execution logic and adherence to secure coding standards such as OWASP guidelines are essential to prevent similar path traversal issues in future updates.