# CVE-2026-41656: Admidio: Path Traversal via Unvalidated `name` Parameter in Document Add Mode Enables Arbitrary Server File Read

> Attackers can read arbitrary server files, including credentials, by exploiting path traversal in the document add mode via a crafted link.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 May 2026
- **Updated:** 7 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m9h6-8pqm-xrhf

## What is CVE-2026-41656?

CVE-2026-41656 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in admidio, published on 7 May 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Admidio is an open-source user management solution. Prior to version 5.0.9, the add mode in modules/documents-files.php accepts a name parameter validated only as 'string' type (HTML encoding), allowing path traversal characters (../) to pass through unfiltered. Combined with the absence of CSRF protection on this endpoint and SameSite=Lax session cookies, a low-privileged attacker can trick a documents administrator into clicking a crafted link that registers an arbitrary server file (e.g., install/config.php containing database credentials) into a documents folder accessible to the attacker. This issue has been patched in version 5.0.9.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-41656?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including admidio/admidio.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `admidio/admidio` | Packagist | All versions | 5.0.9 |
| `admidio/admidio` | Packagist | All versions | 5.0.9 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-41656?

Upgrade admidio/admidio to 5.0.9 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-41656 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-41656 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-41656 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-41656 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in admidio, published on 7 May 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-41656 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- admidio/admidio (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 5.0.9
- admidio/admidio (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 5.0.9

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41656/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41656/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-41656
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41656
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41656

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41656/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.