Cyber Resilience

CVE-2022-44635

Path Traversal in Apache Fineract ≤ 1.8.1

Published
29 November 2022
Modified
25 April 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.69 99.3th percentile
Risk Priority 86 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2022-44635 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Apache Fineract. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

Apache Fineract versions 1.8.0 and earlier are affected by a path traversal vulnerability in the file upload component, tracked as CVE-2022-44635 and assigned CWE-22. The flaw permits an authenticated user to perform remote code execution on the server, carrying a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 that reflects network-accessible attack vector, low complexity, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

An attacker who already possesses valid credentials can exploit the issue to upload crafted files that traverse directories and execute arbitrary code, thereby gaining control over the affected Fineract instance.

Public advisories from the Apache project direct users to upgrade to version 1.8.1 as the primary mitigation, with corresponding notices published on the project mailing lists and Openwall.

The EPSS probability rose from lower values to a peak of 0.4096 on 2025-12-11 before receding to the current 0.1297, indicating that exploitation interest emerged after disclosure.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Apache Fineract allowed an authenticated user to perform remote code execution due to a path traversal vulnerability in a file upload component of Apache Fineract, allowing an attacker to run remote code. This issue affects Apache Fineract version 1.8.0 and…

more

prior versions. We recommend users to upgrade to 1.8.1.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
Path traversal in the file upload component allows an authenticated attacker to upload and execute arbitrary code on the server.
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Controlconfidence: MEDIUM
The vulnerability enables an attacker to transfer malicious files to the server for subsequent execution.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-23907Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2023-22887Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2024-23673Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2024-31860Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2026-29220Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2026-49818Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2024-32113Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2026-50203Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2026-33929Same vendor: Apache
CVE-2023-27603Same vendor: Apache

Affected Assets

apache
fineract
≤ 1.8.1

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)
  • SI-10 Information Input Validation
  • SI-2 Flaw Remediation
  • SI-3 Malicious Code Protection
Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)
  • SI-3 Malicious Code Protection
Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.3.2

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Enforces validation of file paths and names during upload to block the path traversal that enables arbitrary code execution.

prevent

Requires prompt application of the vendor patch (upgrade to 1.8.1) that eliminates the path-traversal flaw in the file-upload component.

preventdetect

Deploys malicious-code detection mechanisms that can inspect uploaded files and block or alert on attempts to introduce executable payloads.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching/maintenance can remediate known path-traversal flaws in deployed software (partial prevention of exploitability) but does nothing to stop the coding defect from being introduced in the first place.

PR.AA-05 none match
prevents

PR.AA-05 defines and reviews access policies but does not address code-level pathname neutralization, so neither direction prevents CWE-22.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development catches path traversal via static/dynamic analysis.

prevents

Secure SDLC mandates input validation and path sanitization that directly prevent path traversal.

prevents

Application security requirements include rules for safe file handling and canonicalization.

prevents

Secure architecture principles require least-privilege file access and directory isolation.

prevents

Secure coding standards explicitly forbid unsafe path construction and mandate safe APIs.

mitigates

Information access restriction limits which files an application may read or write.

References