CVE-2026-5013: elecV2P Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-5013 Overview

A path traversal vulnerability has been identified in elecV2 elecV2P versions up to 3.8.3. The vulnerability exists in the path.join function within the /store/:key file endpoint. By manipulating the URL argument, an attacker can traverse directories outside the intended file system boundaries, potentially accessing sensitive files and configurations on the target system.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this path traversal vulnerability to read arbitrary files on the affected system without authentication, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, credentials, or other protected information.

Affected Products

• elecV2 elecV2P versions up to and including 3.8.3

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-28 - CVE-2026-5013 published to NVD
• 2026-03-30 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-5013

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-22 (Path Traversal), which occurs when user-controlled input is used to construct filesystem paths without adequate sanitization. The vulnerable component is the path.join function used in the /store/:key endpoint of elecV2P. When processing URL arguments, the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input, allowing attackers to include directory traversal sequences such as ../ to escape the intended directory structure.

The exploit has been publicly disclosed through a GitHub Issue Discussion, increasing the risk of exploitation. The project maintainers were notified early through an issue report but have not responded at the time of disclosure.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation within the path.join function when handling the URL argument in the /store/:key endpoint. The application does not adequately sanitize or validate user-supplied input before using it to construct file system paths. This allows malicious actors to inject path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2f, or encoded variants) that navigate outside the intended directory, granting unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the server.

Attack Vector

The attack can be carried out remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP request to the /store/:key endpoint, including path traversal sequences in the URL parameter to access files outside the designated storage directory.

For example, an attacker might manipulate the key parameter to traverse up the directory tree and access sensitive system files or application configuration files containing credentials or other sensitive data. The attack exploits the lack of proper path canonicalization and boundary checking in the vulnerable function.

Technical details and proof-of-concept information can be found in the VulDB submission and the GitHub issue report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-5013

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to /store/:key endpoints containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, ..%252f, or similar encoded variants
• Unusual file access patterns in application logs showing attempts to access files outside the designated storage directory
• Web server access logs showing requests with abnormally long URLs or encoded directory traversal patterns targeting the store endpoint

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block requests containing common path traversal patterns
• Monitor HTTP request logs for encoded path traversal attempts targeting the /store/ endpoint
• Deploy intrusion detection system (IDS) signatures to identify path traversal exploitation attempts against elecV2P instances
• Audit file access logs for unauthorized read operations on sensitive system files

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all requests to the /store/:key endpoint
• Configure alerting for any file access attempts outside the designated storage directories
• Implement file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files and system directories
• Review access logs regularly for patterns indicative of directory traversal exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-5013

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to elecV2P instances to trusted networks or IP addresses only
• Implement a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to block path traversal patterns in HTTP requests
• Consider disabling or restricting access to the /store/:key endpoint if not required for operations
• Monitor for any signs of exploitation while awaiting an official patch from the vendor

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no official patch has been released by the elecV2P project maintainers. The project was informed of the vulnerability through a GitHub issue report but has not responded. Users should monitor the elecV2P GitHub repository for updates and apply patches as soon as they become available.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF in front of elecV2P to filter and sanitize incoming requests containing path traversal sequences
• Implement network-level access controls to restrict access to elecV2P to trusted sources only
• Run elecV2P with minimal file system permissions to limit the impact of potential exploitation
• Consider temporarily disabling the vulnerable /store/:key endpoint if it is not critical to operations

# Example nginx configuration to block path traversal patterns
location /store/ {
    # Block common path traversal sequences
    if ($request_uri ~* "\.\.") {
        return 403;
    }
    if ($request_uri ~* "%2e%2e") {
        return 403;
    }
    if ($request_uri ~* "%252e") {
        return 403;
    }
    # Proxy to elecV2P backend
    proxy_pass http://localhost:8080;
}