Path Traversal in Apostrophecms Import-Export
CVE-2026-32731
ApostropheCMS is an open-source content management framework. Prior to version 3.5.3 of `@apostrophecms/import-export`, The `extract()` function in `gzip.js` constructs file-write paths using `fs.createWriteStream(path.join(exportPath, header.name))`. `path.join()` does not resolve or sanitise traversal segments such as `../`. It concatenates them as-is, meaning a tar entry named `../../evil.js` resolves to a path outside the intended extraction directory. No canonical-path check is performed before the write stream is opened. This is a textbook Zip Slip vulnerability. Any user who has been granted the Global Content Modify permission — a role routinely assigned to content editors and site managers — can upload a crafted `.tar.gz` file through the standard CMS import UI and write attacker-controlled content to any path the Node.js process can reach on the host filesystem. Version 3.5.3 of `@apostrophecms/import-export` fixes the issue.
Vulnerability class: Path Traversal (Directory Traversal)
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 9.9 (Critical). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.006 (46.1th percentile), scored .
Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 46th percentile — 46.1% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.004 · newest: 0.006 · change: +0.002
Affected products
- Apostrophecms Import-Export — versions < 3.5.3
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- github.com/apostrophecms/apostrophe/security/advisories/GHSA-mwxc-m426-3f78 (Exploit, Vendor Advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-32731?
- CVE-2026-32731 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Apostrophecms Import-Export, classified under Path Traversal. CVSS score: 9.9/10. Published 2026-03-18.
- How severe is CVE-2026-32731?
- Critical severity. CVSS v3 base score is 9.9 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2026-32731 known to be exploited?
- 1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.