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)

EPSS: 0.004 (35.4th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

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.

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

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.