CVE-2026-45532: DataEase Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-45532 Overview

DataEase is an open source data visualization and analysis tool. CVE-2026-45532 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] affecting DataEase versions prior to 2.10.23 when deployed on Windows hosts. The root cause is that Windows uses \ as the FILE_SEPARATOR, but the server only filters the / character during string truncation. Attackers can traverse directories outside the intended scope by supplying paths containing backslash separators. The maintainers fixed the issue in release v2.10.23, and no workarounds are available.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated network attackers can read files outside the intended directory on Windows deployments, exposing sensitive configuration data and application secrets.

Affected Products

• DataEase versions prior to 2.10.23
• DataEase deployments running on Windows operating systems
• Any DataEase instance exposed to untrusted network input

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-08-18 - CVE-2026-45532 published to NVD
• 2026-08-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-45532

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic path traversal flaw [CWE-22] rooted in incomplete input filtering. DataEase performs string truncation on file paths to constrain them within an intended directory. The truncation logic recognizes the forward slash (/) as a directory separator but omits the backslash (\), which is the native FILE_SEPARATOR on Windows. Attackers can therefore craft paths using \ sequences that the filter ignores while the Windows filesystem still interprets them as directory boundaries. The result is that an attacker escapes the intended path prefix and reaches arbitrary locations on the host filesystem. Because the attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction, exploitation can be automated at scale against exposed instances.

Root Cause

The root cause is platform-inconsistent path sanitization. The server-side truncation routine assumes a single separator character rather than enumerating both POSIX and Windows separators. On Windows, \ remains an authoritative path delimiter, so unfiltered backslashes allow directory traversal that the filter cannot detect.

Attack Vector

A remote attacker sends a crafted request containing backslash sequences such as ..\ in a path parameter processed by DataEase. The server truncates on / characters, leaves the backslashes intact, and passes the resulting string to Windows file APIs. The APIs resolve the traversal and return contents outside the intended base directory. Refer to the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-2mqc-w4hm-f3p9 for additional technical context.

// No verified proof-of-concept code is published for this CVE.
// See the upstream advisory for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-45532

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to DataEase endpoints containing ..\ or URL-encoded %5c sequences in path or query parameters
• Access log entries showing file-reading endpoints returning unexpected content sizes or non-standard file extensions
• DataEase server processes reading files outside the application installation directory on Windows hosts

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web server and reverse proxy logs for backslash-encoded traversal patterns targeting DataEase URLs
• Deploy web application firewall rules that normalize both / and \ before enforcing path allowlists
• Compare DataEase file access telemetry against the expected working directory on Windows deployments

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on file reads by the DataEase service process outside its installation and data directories
• Track outbound responses from DataEase endpoints for anomalous payload sizes indicating file exfiltration
• Monitor for repeated 200-status responses to requests containing encoded backslash characters

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-45532

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade DataEase to version 2.10.23 or later using the official v2.10.23 release
• Restrict network exposure of DataEase instances to trusted networks until patching is complete
• Audit Windows hosts running DataEase for unexpected file access originating from the service account

Patch Information

The maintainers fixed CVE-2026-45532 in DataEase v2.10.23. The patch corrects path filtering to account for the Windows FILE_SEPARATOR (\) in addition to /. Administrators should apply the upgrade directly since the vendor states no workarounds exist. Release notes are available in the DataEase v2.10.23 release.

Workarounds

• No workarounds are available according to the vendor advisory; upgrading to 2.10.23 is the only supported remediation
• As a temporary compensating control, place DataEase behind a reverse proxy that normalizes and rejects requests containing \ or %5c in path parameters

# Compensating control example: block backslash traversal at nginx
location /dataease/ {
    if ($request_uri ~* "(\\|%5c)") {
        return 403;
    }
    proxy_pass http://dataease_backend;
}