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TI-2026-51391 Aliases CVE-2026-73255

Mongoose: Path traversal in SSI #include directives enables arbitrary file read

Priority MEDIUM 62CWE-22Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · None · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-22 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

Mongoose is an embedded web server and network library. Prior to 7.22, an attacker who can control an SSI-enabled file can place directory traversal sequences in an #include file or #include virtual directive. The mg_ssi() function in src/ssi.c concatenates the directive argument into a filesystem path without calling mg_path_is_sane(), allowing an MG_ENABLE_SSI deployment with ssi_pattern configured to disclose files readable by the Mongoose process. This issue is fixed in version 7.22.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00657 51st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed mongoose (cesanta): 7.22

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Cesantamongoosebefore 7.227.22Patch availableCNA
  • mongoose VendorCesanta Affected before 7.22 Fixed in 7.22 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:cesanta:mongoose:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 7.22VulnerableCesanta
  • cpe:2.3:a:cesanta:mongoose:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 7.22 Vulnerable ·Cesanta

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA mongoose (cesanta) Fixed in 7.22

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-73255
  2. 2026-10-11 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

Exploit 1

Patch 2

Other 1

  • TI-2026-51393 Mongoose: Content-Length + Transfer-Encoding coexistence enables request smuggling CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2026-51389 Mongoose: TLS Hostname Verification Bypass via Overly Permissive Wildcard Matching CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2023-02723 Cesanta Mongoose MQTT Message Parsing Heap Overflow CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2020-15865 Buffer overflow in mg_resolve_from_hosts_file in Mongoose 6.18, when reading from a crafted hosts file. CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2023-17032 The HTTP server in Mongoose before 7.10 accepts requests containing negative… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-06113 Cesanta Mongoose TCP Option net_builtin.c handle_opt infinite loop CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
See all 54 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences