CVE-2026-21440
AdonisJS Path Traversal in Multipart File Handling
Description
### Summary **Description** A Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in AdonisJS multipart file handling may allow a remote attacker to write arbitrary files to arbitrary locations on the server filesystem. This impacts @adonisjs/bodyparser through version 10.1.1 and 11.x prerelease versions prior to 11.0.0-next.6. This issue has been patched in @adonisjs/bodyparser versions 10.1.2 and 11.0.0-next.6. ### Details AdonisJS parses `multipart/form-data` via `BodyParser` and exposes uploads as `MultipartFile`. The issue is in the `MultipartFile.move(location, options)` default options. If `options.name` isn't provided, it defaults to the unsanitized client filename and builds the destination with `path.join(location, name)`, allowing a traversal to escape the default or intended directory chosen by the developer. If `options.overwrite` isn't provided, it defaults to true, allowing file overwrites. The documentation previously demonstrated examples leading developers to this vulnerable code path. ### Impact Exploitation requires a reachable upload endpoint. If a developer uses `MultipartFile.move()` without the second `options` argument or without explicitly sanitizing the filename, an attacker can supply a crafted `filename` value containing traversal sequences, writing to a destination path outside the intended upload directory. This can lead to arbitrary file write on the server. If the attacker can overwrite application code, startup scripts, or configuration files that are later executed/loaded, RCE is possible. RCE is not guaranteed and depends on filesystem permissions, deployment layout, and application/runtime behavior. ### Patches Fixes targeting v6 and v7 have been published below. - https://github.com/adonisjs/bodyparser/releases/tag/v10.1.2 - https://github.com/adonisjs/bodyparser/releases/tag/v11.0.0-next.6
How to fix CVE-2026-21440
To remediate CVE-2026-21440, upgrade the affected package to a fixed version below.
- —upgrade to 10.1.2 or later
Is CVE-2026-21440 being exploited?
Low — EPSS is 0.1%, meaning exploitation activity has not been observed at scale.