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Audiobookshelf EUVDEUVD-2026-29297

| CVE-2026-42888 MEDIUM
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2026-05-11 GitHub_M
6.9
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: GitHub_M
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Reach Audiobookshelf network endpoint
  2. Delivery
    Send crafted podcast creation request
  3. Exploit
    Supply path-traversal file path
  4. Execution
    Bypass library directory boundary check
  5. Impact
    Write file to arbitrary server path

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the ability to reach the podcast creation API endpoint in server/controllers/PodcastController.js over the network. The supplied CVSS 4.0 vector specifies PR:N (no authentication required), but this analyst notes that podcast creation is a write operation typically gated behind authentication in self-hosted media servers - if the endpoint does enforce authentication, a valid user account (PR:L) would be required. Administrators should verify whether their deployment exposes the podcast API to unauthenticated callers. Limiting factors include: the product is self-hosted and not inherently internet-facing (many deployments are LAN or VPN-only); the integrity impact is scoped to files writable by the server process; and no availability or confidentiality impact is indicated by CVSS metrics.

Impact

The CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9 reflects a network-accessible, low-complexity, no-privileges-required attack with limited integrity impact and no confidentiality or availability impact. However, the PR:N assignment warrants scrutiny - podcast creation is a state-modifying operation that typically requires authentication on a self-hosted server, and this analyst assesses PR:L as more likely (see assessed vector). EPSS sits at 0.05% (14th percentile), indicating very low current exploitation probability. SSVC marks exploitation as 'none' observed, but automatable, meaning the attack pattern is straightforward enough to script. KEV status is not triggered, and no POC has been identified. Taken together, this is a real but low-urgency finding: the integrity impact is limited (VI:L, no data exfiltration or availability), the product has a narrow self-hosted deployment footprint, and no exploitation activity has been reported. Patching is the appropriate response; emergency out-of-band remediation is not warranted absent KEV or POC confirmation.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who can reach the Audiobookshelf podcast creation endpoint sends an HTTP request containing a crafted file path - for example, using '../' sequences to escape the library root - causing the server to write an attacker-controlled file to an arbitrary location writable by the Node.js process. No public proof-of-concept code is known at time of analysis. The SSVC 'automatable' flag indicates that once a reliable exploit is developed, scripted scanning across self-hosted instances exposed to the internet would be feasible.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 23, 2026

Path traversal in Audiobookshelf's podcast creation endpoint allows attackers to write files outside the intended library directory by supplying a crafted file path. Affected versions are all releases prior to 2.32.2 (per CVE) or 2.33.2 (per EUVD - see confidence notes), with the vulnerable code located in server/controllers/PodcastController.js. No public exploit code has been identified and CISA KEV has not flagged active exploitation, but SSVC marks the attack as automatable, meaning scripted mass-scanning is feasible once a reliable exploit exists.

RemediationAI

Upgrade Audiobookshelf to version 2.32.2 or later; the EUVD record suggests 2.33.2 may represent a further fix - consult the vendor security advisory at https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/security/advisories/GHSA-phch-9734-wrp3 to confirm the authoritative patched release before upgrading. If immediate patching is not possible, restrict network access to the Audiobookshelf instance so only trusted users can reach the podcast creation API endpoint - placing it behind a VPN or an authenticated reverse proxy eliminates the network vector for unauthenticated exploitation. Additionally, running the Audiobookshelf process under a dedicated low-privilege OS user with filesystem permissions scoped strictly to the intended media library directory limits the blast radius of any successful path traversal to that directory tree, preventing writes to sensitive system paths.

Affected VersionsENISA

audiobookshelf < 2.33.2

Affected Packages

euvd audiobookshelf fix: 2.33.2

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Audiobookshelf (CPE: cpe:2.3:a:advplyr:audiobookshelf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*) is a Node.js self-hosted media server for audiobooks and podcasts. The root cause is CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), a classic path traversal flaw. The podcast creation HTTP endpoint accepts a caller-supplied file path parameter and performs insufficient boundary validation - it fails to canonicalize or jail the path within the configured library directory before acting on it. A crafted payload containing sequences such as '../' or absolute paths can therefore cause the server to write or interact with files anywhere the Node.js process has filesystem access, outside the intended media root.

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Severity by source

Vendor (GitHub_M) PRIMARY 6.9 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 4.3 MEDIUM

Podcast creation is a write operation likely requiring at least user-level auth (PR:L); only limited integrity impact applies with no confidentiality or availability effect.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (GitHub_M).

CVSS VectorVendor: GitHub_M

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
None
Vulnerable system: Integrity
Low
Vulnerable system: Availability
None
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

3
Patch available
May 11, 2026 - 22:18 EUVD
CVSS changed
May 11, 2026 - 21:22 NVD
6.9 (MEDIUM)
CVE Published
May 11, 2026 - 20:16 nvd
MEDIUM 6.9

DescriptionCVE.org

Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted audiobook and podcast server. Prior to 2.32.2, the podcast creation endpoint at server/controllers/PodcastController.js accepts a user-controlled file path without sufficient boundary validation to ensure it remains within the intended library directory. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.32.2.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 86% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
niche self-hosted media server, primarily enthusiast deployments
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium
Technical Impact
Partial

Priority Score

34
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +34
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

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CVE-2026-42883 MEDIUM
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Authenticated users with download permissions in Audiobookshelf prior to 2.32.2 can download files from libraries they d

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JWT token type confusion in Audiobookshelf prior to 2.36.0 allows any holder of a valid refresh token to authenticate AP

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