CVE-2025-41368
Published: 26 March 2026
Summary
CVE-2025-41368 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Smallsrv Small Http Server. Its CVSS base score is 8.1 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 8.3th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly remediates the specific flaw in Small HTTP Server v3.06.36 that enables authenticated path traversal bypassing SecurityManager restrictions.
Validates user-supplied path inputs at the '/' endpoint to block traversal sequences like '../' from accessing files outside the document root.
Limits damage from successful traversal by restricting the web server process to least privilege, preventing access to sensitive files despite OS permissions.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Path traversal in public-facing HTTP server directly enables T1190 for initial exploitation and T1005 for arbitrary local file read/write.
NVD Description
Problem in the Small HTTP Server v3.06.36 service. An authenticated path traversal vulnerability in '/' allows remote users to bypass the intended restrictions of SecurityManager and display any file if they have the appropriate permissions outside the document root configured…
more
on the server.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-41368 is an authenticated path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in Small HTTP Server version 3.06.36. The flaw occurs in the '/' endpoint of the service, enabling remote authenticated users to bypass SecurityManager restrictions and access any file outside the configured document root, provided they possess the necessary file permissions on the server. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N), indicating high severity due to its potential for unauthorized file disclosure and manipulation.
An attacker with low-privileged authenticated access over the network can exploit this vulnerability with low complexity and no user interaction required. Successful exploitation allows reading sensitive files beyond the web root and potentially altering them, leading to high impacts on confidentiality and integrity, such as exposing configuration files, credentials, or application data, while availability remains unaffected.
The INCIBE-CERT advisory addresses multiple vulnerabilities in Small HTTP Server, including CVE-2025-41368, and provides details at https://www.incibe.es/en/incibe-cert/notices/aviso/multiple-vulnerabilities-small-http-server-smallsrv. Security practitioners should consult this reference for recommended mitigations, such as applying patches if available or restricting access to the affected service.
Details
- CWE(s)