CVE-2026-44641 Microsoft APM: plugin.json component paths escape plugin root and copy arbitrary host files during install
A malicious plugin can use path traversal in plugin.json to copy arbitrary host files during installation, allowing attackers to read sensitive data.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-44641?
CVE-2026-44641 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in microsoft apm, published on 15 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
Microsoft APM is an open-source, community-driven dependency manager for AI agents. Prior to 0.8.12, Microsoft APM normalizes marketplace plugins by copying plugin components referenced in plugin.json into .apm/. The manifest fields agents, skills, commands, and hooks are attacker-controlled, but the implementation does not enforce that those paths remain inside the plugin directory. A malicious plugin can therefore use absolute paths or ../ traversal paths to copy arbitrary readable host files or directories from the installer's machine during apm install. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.8.12.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-44641?
3 open source packages ship an affected version, including apm-cli.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
apm-cli PyPI | All versions | 0.8.12 |
apm-cli PyPI | All versions | 0.8.12 |
apm-cli PyPI | All versions | 0.8.12 |
How do I fix CVE-2026-44641?
Upgrade apm-cli to 0.8.12 or later.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-44641 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-44641 exists.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-xhrw-5qxx-jpwr, PYSEC-2026-2379.