CVE-2025-26349 Overview
CVE-2025-26349 is a relative path traversal vulnerability [CWE-23] in the file upload mechanism of Q-Free MaxTime version 2.11.0 and earlier. The flaw allows an authenticated remote attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the host by sending crafted HTTP requests with manipulated file path parameters. Q-Free MaxTime is an intelligent traffic management system deployed in transportation infrastructure environments, making file integrity on these hosts a direct operational concern. Nozomi Networks Labs published the coordinated advisory documenting the issue.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can overwrite arbitrary files on MaxTime servers, enabling persistence, configuration tampering, and potential code execution paths against traffic management infrastructure.
Affected Products
- Q-Free MaxTime versions <= 2.11.0
- Deployments using the affected file upload endpoint
- Transportation and traffic management environments running unpatched MaxTime instances
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-12 - CVE-2025-26349 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2025-10-24 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26349
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the file upload handler exposed by Q-Free MaxTime. The application accepts a file name or destination path parameter from the client and uses it to construct the storage path on disk. Because the handler fails to canonicalize and validate the supplied path, traversal sequences such as ../ are resolved relative to a directory the attacker can escape from. An authenticated user can submit an HTTP upload request that references locations outside the intended upload directory and overwrite existing files owned by the MaxTime service account. The Nozomi Networks advisory describes this behavior as exploitable through normal HTTP traffic against the management interface.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient input validation on user-controlled path components in the upload routine. The code path concatenates attacker-supplied filename data into a destination path without rejecting or normalizing .. segments and without enforcing that the resolved absolute path remains inside the designated upload directory. This is a textbook [CWE-23] Relative Path Traversal defect.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network reachability to the MaxTime HTTP service and valid authentication credentials with permission to upload files. The attacker issues an upload request where the filename or path field contains traversal sequences pointing at sensitive targets such as web root files, configuration files, scheduled task scripts, or service binaries. Successful overwrite can corrupt service availability, alter operational parameters, or stage follow-on code execution by replacing files the service or operating system later loads. Refer to the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory for the technical write-up.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26349
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to MaxTime upload endpoints containing ../, ..\, URL-encoded %2e%2e%2f, or double-encoded traversal sequences in filename parameters
- Unexpected modification timestamps on MaxTime configuration files, web assets, or binaries outside normal change windows
- New or modified files in directories the MaxTime upload handler should not write to
- Authenticated sessions performing repeated upload requests with unusual path values
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server and application logs for upload requests whose filename or path parameters contain traversal patterns or absolute path prefixes
- Deploy file integrity monitoring on the MaxTime installation directory, web root, and system configuration paths to flag unauthorized writes
- Correlate authenticated user activity with file system changes to identify accounts being abused for path traversal
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward MaxTime application logs and host audit logs to a central analytics platform for long-term retention and query
- Alert on writes by the MaxTime service account to paths outside its designated upload directory
- Track failed and successful authentication events on the MaxTime management interface to detect credential abuse preceding exploitation
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26349
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Q-Free MaxTime to a release later than 2.11.0 that addresses CVE-2025-26349 once provided by the vendor
- Restrict network access to the MaxTime management interface to trusted administrative networks only
- Rotate credentials for accounts with upload privileges and audit which users hold that permission
- Review file integrity baselines on MaxTime hosts and investigate any unexplained file modifications
Patch Information
Coordination details and remediation guidance are published in the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory. Operators should contact Q-Free directly to confirm the fixed version applicable to their deployment and apply it during the next maintenance window.
Workarounds
- Place the MaxTime web interface behind a reverse proxy or web application firewall that blocks path traversal patterns in upload request bodies and headers
- Reduce upload privileges to the minimum set of accounts and disable upload functionality for users who do not require it
- Enforce network segmentation so the MaxTime host cannot be reached from general-purpose user networks
# Example WAF rule concept: reject upload requests containing traversal sequences
# (adapt to your WAF syntax; example shown for ModSecurity)
SecRule REQUEST_URI|ARGS|ARGS_NAMES|REQUEST_HEADERS:Content-Disposition \
"@rx (?:\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e/|/%2e%2e)" \
"id:1002601,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'Path traversal attempt against MaxTime upload'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
