CVE-2026-92186 in Foglight for Databases
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2026
Quest Foglight for Databases paFnUploadFileAndCreateInfo Directory Traversal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Quest Foglight for Databases. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the paFnUploadFileAndCreateInfo script. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-29038.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within Quest Foglight for Databases, specifically located in the paFnUploadFileAndCreateInfo script component. This artifact is responsible for handling file upload operations and associated metadata creation processes. The core technical deficiency lies in the insufficient validation of user-supplied path inputs before they are utilized by underlying file system functions. In a secure implementation, any directory or file path provided by an external entity must be strictly sanitized to ensure it remains within designated boundaries. However, due to this lack of proper input validation, the application fails to prevent attackers from manipulating these paths using standard traversal sequences such as dot-dot-slash characters. This oversight allows for arbitrary file system access beyond the intended scope of the upload functionality.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables a remote code execution scenario that carries severe consequences for affected systems. Because authentication is required to exploit this flaw, it is classified as an authenticated attack vector rather than a fully unauthenticated remote compromise. Nevertheless, once an attacker successfully authenticates and leverages the directory traversal weakness, they can write malicious files to arbitrary locations on the server file system. The critical severity of this issue stems from the execution context in which these operations occur. The vulnerability allows code to be executed with SYSTEM-level privileges, effectively granting the attacker complete control over the underlying operating system. This level of access facilitates further lateral movement within a network, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation without detection by standard security controls that rely on user-level permissions for threat assessment.
This incident aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which defines Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The failure to restrict file operations to a specific directory allows attackers to escape the web root or application-specific folders and write executables or scripts in system-critical directories. Furthermore, from an adversary tactics perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1505.003, known as Web Shell: ASPX. Attackers typically exploit such file upload vulnerabilities by uploading a malicious web shell script that can be invoked via HTTP requests to execute arbitrary commands on the server. The combination of directory traversal and remote code execution creates a high-severity risk profile requiring immediate remediation attention from security operations teams managing Quest Foglight deployments.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both technical patching and architectural hardening. The primary defense is applying the vendor-provided software update that addresses the input validation logic within the paFnUploadFileAndCreateInfo script. Until patches are applied, administrators should enforce strict network segmentation to limit access to the Foglight management interface only from trusted administrative subnets. Additionally, implementing a Web Application Firewall with rules specifically designed to detect and block directory traversal sequences in upload parameters can provide an additional layer of defense. It is also advisable to review file system permissions on the server hosting the application to ensure that even if exploitation occurs, the impact is contained by restricting write access to critical directories for the service account running the Foglight process. Regular auditing of uploaded files and monitoring for unusual processes spawned with elevated privileges can aid in early detection of such exploits in active environments.