OpenMRS up to 2.7.8/2.8.5 REST Endpoint module WebModuleUtil.startModule path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in OpenMRS up to 2.7.8/2.8.5. The affected element is the function WebModuleUtil.startModule of the file /openmrs/ws/rest/v1/module of the component REST Endpoint. Performing a manipulation results in path traversal. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-40076. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in OpenMRS up to 2.7.8/2.8.5. This affects the function WebModuleUtil.startModule of the file /openmrs/ws/rest/v1/module of the component REST Endpoint. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

OpenMRS Core is an open source electronic medical record system platform. In versions 2.7.8 and earlier and versions 2.8.0 through 2.8.5, the module upload endpoint at POST `/openmrs/ws/rest/v1/module` is vulnerable to a Zip Slip path traversal attack. During automatic extraction of uploaded .omod archives in `WebModuleUtil.startModule()`, ZIP entries under web/module/ are checked only to see whether the full entry path starts with `..,` and the remaining path is then concatenated into the destination path without normalization or a boundary check. A crafted archive can therefore include entries such as `web/module/../../../../malicious.jsp` and cause files to be written outside the intended module directory. An authenticated attacker with module upload access can write arbitrary files to locations such as the web application root and achieve remote code execution by uploading a JSP file and then requesting it. The issue is compounded by the fact that the module.allow_web_admin runtime property is enforced in the legacy UI controller but not in the REST API upload path, so deployments relying on that property to block web-based module administration remain exposed through the REST endpoint. This issue has been fixed in versions after 2.7.8 in the 2.7.x line and in version 2.8.6 and later.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-40076 since 04/09/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Additional levels of successful authentication are needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1006 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Health Information Software

Name

• OpenMRS

Version

• 2.7.0
• 2.7.1
• 2.7.2
• 2.7.3
• 2.7.4
• 2.7.5
• 2.7.6
• 2.7.7
• 2.7.8
• 2.8.0
• 2.8.1
• 2.8.2
• 2.8.3
• 2.8.4
• 2.8.5

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion