Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-6418

Path Traversal in Papercut Mf ≤ 25.0.11

Published
05 May 2026
Modified
17 June 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v4 4.6
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
EPSS Score 0.0056 44th percentile
Risk Priority 24 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-6418 is a medium-severity Absolute Path Traversal (CWE-36) vulnerability in Papercut Papercut Mf. Its CVSS base score is 4.6 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Data from Local System (T1005); ranked at the 44th 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 AC-6 (Least Privilege) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

An issue was discovered in the Shared Account Synchronization component of PaperCut MF (version 25.0.4). The application allows administrative users to configure a source path for account data synchronization. Due to a lack of proper path validation and sanitization, an…

more

authenticated user with administrative privileges can specify arbitrary file paths on the local file system. This allows for the enumeration of directory structures and the unauthorized reading of sensitive text-based configuration or system files. When the synchronization process is triggered, the application attempts to parse the contents of the specified file, subsequently exposing the data within the application's account management interface. This vulnerability could lead to the disclosure of sensitive system information or configuration details, depending on the permissions of the service account under which the application is running.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
T1039 Data from Network Shared Drive Collection
Adversaries may search network shares on computers they have compromised to find files of interest.
T1119 Automated Collection Collection
Once established within a system or network, an adversary may use automated techniques for collecting internal data.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1530 Data from Cloud Storage Collection
Adversaries may access data from cloud storage.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-31046Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2023-2533Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2023-3486Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2026-4794Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2024-9672Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2026-6180Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2023-27351Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2024-8405Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2023-39469Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf
CVE-2023-27350Same product: Papercut Papercut Mf

Affected Assets

papercut
papercut mf
≤ 25.0.11
papercut
papercut ng
≤ 25.0.11

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 5 hardening rules · 2 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V8.4.2

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

AC-3 directly enforces authorization checks on access to files and directories, stopping unauthorized external exposure.

AC-6 limits granted privileges, reducing the chance that files or directories become reachable by external parties.

Input validation directly stops construction of absolute paths from untrusted data before they reach file operations.

AC-4 enforces information flow rules that can block unauthorized external access to files or directories.

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 mostly match
prevents

Enforcing least-privilege permissions and authorization policies directly prevents unauthorized file/directory exposure.

PR.IR-01 mostly match
prevents

Logical segmentation and access protections stop external parties from reaching files that should remain internal.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require input validation and path sanitization that prevent absolute path traversal.

PR.DS-01 partial match
prevents

Data-at-rest protections such as encryption or ACLs reduce the impact of unintended file exposure.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines commonly include file-system permission settings that limit external access.

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.

finds

Security testing in development can detect absolute path traversal via static analysis and fuzzing.

mitigates

By tracing and retrieving all copies of information stored on endpoint and portable devices, the control reduces the likelihood that files remain accessible outside the organization’s security perimeter.

mitigates

Labeling information according to its sensitivity and specifying corresponding protection measures makes it less probable that files or directories containing sensitive content will be left accessible to external parties.

mitigates

Including asset location and ownership in the inventory, combined with secure disposal procedures, decreases the chance that files or directories remain accessible to external parties after they should have been removed or restricted.

mitigates

Solid perimeters and locked external access points stop files, devices, or directories containing sensitive data from being reachable by external parties who could otherwise walk in or break in.

mitigates

Authorizing and logging the removal of storage media, disabling unused ports, and monitoring transfers limit the exposure of files or directories to external parties outside the organization’s controlled environment.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (2 rules)
  • V-248579 OL 8 must restrict access to the kernel message buffer. prevents CWE-552
  • V-248597 There must be no "shosts.equiv" files on the OL 8 operating system. prevents CWE-552

References