CVE-2026-97244 in Creator LMS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
Contributor Path Traversal in Creator LMS <= 1.2.19 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as Contributor Path Traversal in Creator LMS versions prior to or equal to 1.2.19 represents a critical security flaw within the learning management system's file handling mechanisms. This issue stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input when processing file uploads or downloads, specifically targeting functionality accessible by contributor-level users. In many web applications, path traversal vulnerabilities arise when an application constructs file paths using unsanitized data provided by the client without properly restricting access to intended directories. In this specific context, attackers can manipulate filenames or directory parameters to include sequences such as dot-dot-slash, which are interpreted by the underlying operating system as instructions to move up one level in the directory hierarchy. This allows an attacker to break out of the designated upload or storage sandbox and access files located outside the intended application root directory.
From a technical perspective, this flaw is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The vulnerability likely exists because the server-side code fails to canonicalize user input before using it in file operations. When a contributor attempts to access or upload a resource, the application may directly concatenate the provided filename with a base directory path without checking for malicious sequences that could resolve to sensitive system files such as configuration files containing database credentials, environment variables, or other administrative configurations. This lack of strict input validation and boundary enforcement creates an avenue for unauthorized data exposure. The severity is compounded by the fact that contributor accounts often possess elevated privileges compared to standard guest users, potentially allowing access to course materials, student records, or internal documentation if the traversal succeeds in reaching higher-level directories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure. Successful exploitation can lead to a complete compromise of the learning management system's integrity and confidentiality. An attacker could read sensitive administrative configuration files, thereby obtaining database connection strings, API keys, or session secret values that facilitate further attacks such as SQL injection or remote code execution via deserialization flaws. Additionally, if write permissions are inadvertently exposed through similar misconfigurations, an attacker might upload malicious scripts to accessible directories, leading to full server compromise and the ability to serve phishing pages or malware to students and instructors using the platform. This undermines trust in the educational institution's digital infrastructure and exposes personally identifiable information of users stored within those accessed files.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, which describes how adversaries search for sensitive data on compromised systems to aid in lateral movement or exfiltration. The exploitation path typically involves crafting specific HTTP requests that embed the traversal sequences within query parameters or file names submitted through the web interface. Security teams should recognize this as a high-risk issue requiring immediate remediation due to its direct impact on data confidentiality and potential for privilege escalation.
To mitigate this vulnerability, developers must implement strict input validation techniques that reject any filenames containing path traversal characters such as periods followed by slashes or backslashes depending on the operating system environment. It is essential to use allow-listing strategies where only alphanumeric characters, hyphens, underscores, and standard file extensions are permitted in user-supplied names. Furthermore, applications should utilize secure APIs for file handling that abstract away direct filesystem interactions, ensuring that all files are stored within a predefined sandboxed directory with no possibility of escaping via relative path manipulation. Implementing canonicalization checks before processing the filename can also neutralize encoded or double-encoded traversal attempts. For organizations running Creator LMS versions 1.2.19 and below, upgrading to the latest patched version is the primary remediation step, as this update likely includes hardened file handling logic that enforces these security controls effectively.