CVE-2026-48855 SFTP READLINK Leaks Absolute Backend Filesystem Path When Root Is Configured
Authenticated SFTP clients can leak absolute backend filesystem paths via symlink resolution when a chroot root is configured.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-48855?
CVE-2026-48855 is a low-severity vulnerability in Erlang OTP, published on 10 Jun 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability in Erlang OTP ssh (ssh_sftpd module) allows File Discovery.
The SSH_FXP_READLINK handler in ssh_sftpd sends the raw result of file:read_link/2 to the client without calling chroot_filename/2 to strip the backend root prefix. An authenticated SFTP client can create a symlink inside the chroot pointing to /; ssh_sftpd resolves the target to the absolute backend root and stores it on disk. Reading the symlink back via SSH_FXP_READLINK returns that absolute path, for example /data/sftp, instead of the chrooted value /.
The information disclosed is the absolute filesystem path of the SFTP root directory and of any symlink targets within it. No file contents, credentials, or access to paths outside the root directory are obtainable through this issue alone.
This vulnerability is associated with program files lib/ssh/src/ssh_sftpd.erl.
This issue affects OTP from OTP 17.0 before OTP 27.3.4.13, OTP 28.5.0.2, and OTP 29.0.2, corresponding to ssh from 3.0.1 before 5.2.11.8, 5.5.2.1, and 6.0.1. Whether OTP before OTP 17.0, corresponding to ssh before 3.0.1, is affected is unknown.
Weakness: CWE-200
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-48855?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Erlang Erlang\/Otp, Erlang Erlang\/Ssh.
How do I fix CVE-2026-48855?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-48855 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-48855 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Erlang OTP
- CVE-2022-37026 Auth bypass in n/a
- CVE-2016-10253 Memory corruption in n/a
- CVE-2026-55953 TLS 1.2 and DTLS client accepts unoffered anonymous cipher suite, bypassing server authentication
- CVE-2026-49759 Stack buffer overflow in SCTP error cause parsing in inet_drv allows remote VM crash
- CVE-2026-58227 TLS/DTLS denial of service via unbounded recursion on cross-signed peer certificate chain
Sources
Also known as AZL-90129, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-48855, EEF-CVE-2026-48855, GHSA-pv7g-pjrq-x2fh, MGASA-2026-0270, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-48855.