CVE-2026-115207 vulnerability in Red Hat Products
Published on October 22, 2026
Patch: filename validation bypass in reversal fallback allows file creation outside the working directory
A flaw was found in GNU patch. An attacker can achieve arbitrary file creation outside the intended working directory by enticing a user or automated workflow to apply a specially crafted patch file. Due to missing validation during automatic patch reversal, absolute file paths in patch headers are accepted rather than rejected. Consequently, the utility can create files in arbitrary locations with the permissions of the executing user.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-115207 can be exploited with local system access, requires user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have no impact on confidentiality, a high impact on integrity, and no impact on availability.
Timeline
Reported to Red Hat.
Made public. 10 days later.
Weakness Type
What is a Directory traversal Vulnerability?
The software uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the software does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
CVE-2026-115207 has been classified to as a Directory traversal vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-115207
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