CVE-2026-41646 Nuclei: Local File Read via require() Module Loader Bypass

What is CVE-2026-41646?

CVE-2026-41646 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in projectdiscovery nuclei, published on 8 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

Nuclei is a vulnerability scanner built on a simple YAML-based DSL. From version 3.0.0 to before version 3.8.0, a vulnerability in Nuclei's JavaScript protocol runtime allows JavaScript templates to read local .js and .json files through the require() function, bypassing the default local file access restriction. This issue has been patched in version 3.8.0.

Weakness: CWE-284

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-41646?

5 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3, github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei and github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v2. It affects 1 product.

Products include Projectdiscovery Nuclei.

How do I fix CVE-2026-41646?

Upgrade github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3 to 3.8.0 or later.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is CVE-2026-41646 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-41646 exists.

Other vulnerabilities in projectdiscovery nuclei

• CVE-2023-37896 Nuclei Path Traversal vulnerability High 7.5
• CVE-2024-43405 Nuclei Template Signature Verification Bypass High 7.4
• CVE-2024-27920 Unsigned code template execution through workflows in projectdiscovery/nuclei High 7.4
• CVE-2026-41645 Nuclei: Environment variable disclosure via Response-Derived DSL Expressions Medium 5.3
• CVE-2026-41282 Code injection in Nuclei Medium 4.0

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-29rg-wmcw-hpf4, GO-2026-4965.