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Symlink following in ngx_cache_purge lets attackers delete files

Priority LOW 16CWE-61Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · Low · Low
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

ngx_cache_purge from 2.4.0 through 2.5.6 and from 3.0.0 before 3.0.4 follows symlinks while walking the cache directory tree during purge operations. Attackers with low privileges who can create a symlink inside the cache path can delete files when nginx and a served application such as WordPress run under the same user account.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29

Description from the CNA

ngx_cache_purge before 3.0.4 can allow file deletion via a symlink attack in certain situations where nginx and a served application (e.g., WordPress) run under the same user account. The attacker must be able to create a symlink inside the cache path. Version 3.0.4 fixes this for the case of a symlink created at an arbitrary earlier time, but does not resolve an applicable TOCTOU race condition. (The ngx_cache_purge module follows symlinks while walking the cache directory tree during purge operations. The module relies on nginx's ngx_walk_tree(), which relies on stat() and therefore follows symlinks.)

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00164 5th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed ngx_cache_purge (denji): 3.0.4

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
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
denjingx_cache_purge2.4.0 – 2.5.6; 3.0.0 to before 3.0.43.0.4Patch availableCNA
  • ngx_cache_purge Vendordenji Affected 2.4.0 – 2.5.6; 3.0.0 to before 3.0.4 Fixed in 3.0.4 Patch available CNA

Remediation

Upgrade ngx_cache_purge to version 3.0.4, which fixes the symlink case for a symlink created at an arbitrary earlier time. The CNA's description states that 3.0.4 does not resolve an applicable TOCTOU race condition.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-29

  • Fix · CNA ngx_cache_purge (denji) Fixed in 3.0.4

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-12 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-108981
  2. 2026-10-12 Alias added: GHSA-5fhq-3m7h-fqv8
  3. 2026-10-15 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

Sources