theupdateframework go-tuf up to 2.4.0 Cache Directory /escaped-repo path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in theupdateframework go-tuf up to 2.4.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /escaped-repo of the component Cache Directory Handler. This manipulation causes path traversal. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-24686. The attack is restricted to local execution. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in theupdateframework go-tuf up to 2.4.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function of the file /escaped-repo of the component Cache Directory Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

go-tuf is a Go implementation of The Update Framework (TUF). go-tuf's TAP 4 Multirepo Client uses the map file repository name string (`repoName`) as a filesystem path component when selecting the local metadata cache directory. Starting in version 2.0.0 and prior to version 2.4.1, if an application accepts a map file from an untrusted source, an attacker can supply a `repoName` containing traversal (e.g., `../escaped-repo`) and cause go-tuf to create directories and write the root metadata file outside the intended `LocalMetadataDir` cache base, within the running process's filesystem permissions. Version 2.4.1 contains a patch.

The advisory is shared at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-24686 since 01/23/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. An attack has to be approached locally. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1006 for this issue.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 296739 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-24686), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 2.4.1 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (296739). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

• theupdateframework

Name

• go-tuf

Version

• 2.0
• 2.1
• 2.2
• 2.3
• 2.4.0

Website

• Product: https://github.com/theupdateframework/go-tuf/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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