GitHub Advisoryadvisory · Packagist
GHSA-jq29-c7v8-rg55 Grav: Path Traversal in MediaUploadTrait::deleteFile() Allows Arbitrary File Deletion
HIGH
Official page ↗
- Aliases
- CVE-2026-72695
- Ecosystem
- Packagist
- Packages
- getgrav/grav
- Severity
- High
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
- Weaknesses
- CWE-22
- Reviewed
- 2026-09-17
Affected packages
• Packagist getgrav/grav: < 2.0.16 → fixed in 2.0.16
Description
Path Traversal in MediaUploadTrait::deleteFile() Allows Arbitrary File Deletion
Summary
A path traversal vulnerability in `MediaUploadTrait::deleteFile()` allows an authenticated user with media management permissions to delete arbitrary files on the server. The method validates only the basename portion of the filename using `Utils::checkFilename()`, while the directory path (which may contain `../` sequences) is preserved and passed unvalidated to `unlink()`. This enables directory escape from the intended media storage path.
Severity
High (8.1) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
CWE
CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Details
In `system/src/Grav/Common/Media/Traits/MediaUploadTrait.php`, the `deleteFile()` method (lines 332-365) performs filename validation only on the basename, not the full path:
```php
public function deleteFile(string $filename, ?array $settings = null): void
{
$settings = $this->getUploadSettings($settings);
$filesystem = Filesystem::getInstance(false);
// Line 339-340: Only the BASENAME is validated
$basename = $filesystem->basename($filename); // e.g. "evil.jpg" from "../../evil.jpg"
if (!Utils::checkFilename($basename)) { // passes - no traversal in basename
throw new RuntimeException(/* ... */);
}
$path = $settings['destination'] ?? $this->getPath();
// ...
// Line 353: Full pathname (with traversal) is preserved
$pathname = $filesystem->pathname($filename); // "../../"
// Line 356-357: Traversal path reconstructed
[$base, $ext,,] = $this->getFileParts($basename);
$name = "{$pathname}{$base}.{$ext}"; // "../../evil.jpg"
// Line 360: Passed to doRemove()
$this->doRemove($name, $path);
}
```
`doRemove()` (line 521-582) then calls:
```php
// Line 538
unlink("{$folder}/{$filename}");
// e.g. unlink("/var/www/grav/user/pages/mypage/../../config/system.yaml")
```
`Utils::checkFilename()` (lines 1022-1044) properly checks for `/`, `\`, and `..`, but it is applied to `$filesystem->basename($filename)` (the last path component only), so traversal sequences in the directory portion are never validated.
Data flow from user input
The vulnerability is reachable through the Flex media handling pipeline:
1. `FlexMediaTrait::setUpdatedMedia()` (line 386) iterates form flash data where `$filename` is the array key - user-controlled
2. For file deletions (`$file` is null, line 396), NO upload validation is performed (the `checkUploadedFile()` call at line 401 only executes when `$file` is truthy)
3. The raw filename is stored in `$this->_uploads` at line 414
4. `saveUpdatedMedia()` (line 499) calls `$media->deleteFile($filename, $settings)` with the unsanitized filename
Sibling: renameFile()
The same pattern exists in `renameFile()` (lines 374-405) which has even weaker validation - it performs NO `checkFilename()` call at all. While `renameFile()` currently has no callers in the core codebase, it is part of the public `MediaUploadInterface` and should be fixed as defense-in-depth.
Proof of Concept
Environment: Grav CMS 2.0.16 with admin plugin
The attack requires an authenticated admin user with page/media editing permissions (not super-admin).
1. Create a target file:
```bash
echo "DELETE_ME" > /var/www/grav/user/data/target.txt
```
2. Submit a Flex object form (e.g. page edit) with a crafted media deletion where the filename key contains path traversal:
```
POST /admin/pages/mypage/task:save
Content-Type: multipart/form-data
The form flash data includes a media deletion entry with key:
"../../data/target.txt" -> null (deletion marker)
```
3. When `saveUpdatedMedia()` processes the deletion queue:
• `$filename` = `../../data/target.txt`
• `deleteFile("../../data/target.txt")` is called
• `$basename` = `target.txt` (passes `checkFilename()`)
• `$pathname` = `../../data/`
• `$name` = `../../data/target.txt`
• `doRemove()` calls `unlink("/var/www/grav/user/pages/mypage/../../data/target.txt")`
• Which resolves to `unlink("/var/www/grav/user/data/target.txt")`
4. The file is deleted outside the intended media directory.
Impact
An authenticated user with media management permissions can:
• Delete configuration files (`user/config/system.yaml`, `user/config/security.yaml`)
• Delete other pages' content files
• Delete authentication-related files (user account YAML files)
• Cause denial of service by removing critical application files
• Potentially escalate privileges by removing security configuration
Suggested Fix
Apply `Utils::checkFilename()` to the full `$filename` parameter before decomposing it, or reject any filename containing directory separators or `..` sequences:
```php
public function deleteFile(string $filename, ?array $settings = null): void
{
$settings = $this->getUploadSettings($settings);
$filesystem = Filesystem::getInstance(false);
// Validate the FULL filename, not just the basename
if (!Utils::checkFilename($filename)) {
throw new RuntimeException(/* ... */);
}
// ... rest unchanged
}
```
The same fix should be applied to `renameFile()` for both `$from` and `$to` parameters.
References
• Vulnerable file: `system/src/Grav/Common/Media/Traits/MediaUploadTrait.php` lines 332-365, 521-582
• Caller: `system/src/Grav/Framework/Flex/Traits/FlexMediaTrait.php` lines 386-414, 490-499
• Sibling: `system/src/Grav/Common/Media/Traits/MediaUploadTrait.php` lines 374-405 (renameFile)
• Related GHSA: GHSA-g6j3-8jv9-ch5f (path traversal in PagesController::batchCopy - different file, same bug class)
Disclosure
This vulnerability was discovered using AI-assisted security research tools.
Related
Alias · CVE (1)
- CVE-2026-72695 Grav before 2.0.16 contains a path traversal vulnerability in MediaUploadTrait::deleteFile() that allows authenticated users with media… vulnerability
Weakness · CWE (1)
- CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory weakness