Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:NSummary
CVE-2026-34242 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Weblate Weblate. Its CVSS base score is 7.7 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Data from Local System (T1005); ranked at the 38th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — 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.
CVE-2026-34242 affects Weblate, a web-based localization tool, in versions prior to 5.17. The vulnerability resides in the ZIP download feature, which fails to verify downloaded files and can follow symbolic links (symlinks) outside the intended repository. This path traversal issue, mapped to CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), and CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information), has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.7 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).
An attacker with low-privilege access (PR:L), such as a registered user on the Weblate instance, can exploit this over the network (AV:N) with low complexity (AC:L) and no user interaction (UI:N). By crafting symlinks that point to sensitive files outside the repository, the attacker triggers the ZIP download to include unauthorized data, resulting in high confidentiality impact (C:H) across a changed scope (S:C), such as exposing configuration files, user data, or system information without affecting integrity or availability.
The issue was addressed in Weblate version 5.17, as detailed in the project's GitHub security advisory (GHSA-hv99-mxm5-q397) and the fixing commit (5db3a2a2e047ecaab627a8731cd744a30b2f51d3). Security practitioners should upgrade to 5.17 or later and review access controls for ZIP download features in similar tools.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-23003
Vulnerability Data
Weblate is a web based localization tool. In versions prior to 5.17, the ZIP download feature didn't verify downloaded files, potentially following symlinks outside the repository. This issue has been fixed in version 5.17.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The path traversal vulnerability (via symlink following) in the ZIP download feature directly enables an authenticated attacker to retrieve arbitrary sensitive files (configuration, user data, system info) from the local system, mapping to T1005 Data from Local System.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces approved access authorizations to system resources, preventing the ZIP download feature from following symlinks to unauthorized files outside the repository.
Validates file paths and symlink resolutions during ZIP archive generation to block path traversal and exposure of sensitive information.
Requires timely flaw remediation, including installation of the Weblate 5.17 patch that fixes the unverified symlink following in ZIP downloads.
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.AA-05 directly enforces least-privilege authorization that blocks most unauthorized disclosures, yet CWE-200 also arises from logging, error messages, and side-channel paths that access controls alone do not address.
PR.DS-10 mostly prevents CWE-200 by directly eliminating unauthorized access to sensitive data-in-use, yet only partially addresses the weakness because CWE-200 spans many other exposure vectors outside runtime protection.
PR.IR-01's segmentation/zero-trust controls largely eliminate network-level unauthorized access paths that enable exposure, yet CWE-200 spans many additional vectors (API responses, logs, app logic) that network controls alone cannot close.
Secure SDLC practices directly require code to validate paths and avoid unsafe link following.
PR.AA-01 supplies proper credential lifecycle controls that reduce unauthorized access paths, yet leaves many other exposure vectors (error messages, logging, side channels, etc.) unaddressed.
Authentication verifies actor identity and is a prerequisite for access decisions, yet addresses only one facet of the broad set of exposure vectors in CWE-200.
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.
Restricting anonymous or unknown access and encrypting high-value information limits the exposure of sensitive data that would otherwise be obtainable by unauthorized actors.
Suppressing system details, error specifics, and previous log-on information until successful authentication reduces the information an unauthenticated attacker can gather.
By requiring owners to assign sensitivity labels and corresponding handling rules, the control ensures that information is not left unmarked and therefore reduces the chance that sensitive data will be exposed to unauthorized actors.
Requiring encryption, access controls, and recipient authentication for transfers directly reduces the chance that sensitive data reaches an unauthorized observer.
Secure delivery, protected storage, and confidentiality of allocation records limit exposure of authentication material to unauthorized observers.
Requiring defined procedures, assigned roles, and technical/organizational measures for handling PII reduces the chance that sensitive personal data will be exposed to unauthorized actors through inadequate handling or missing safeguards.