# CVE-2026-72697: Grav CMS before 2.0.16 Path Traversal via media_directory

> Authenticated attackers with page authoring privileges can exploit a path traversal flaw in Grav CMS to read arbitrary files accessible to the web server.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 8 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-47ch-6w46-6xm7

## What is CVE-2026-72697?

CVE-2026-72697 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in getgrav grav, published on 25 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Grav CMS before 2.0.16 contains a path traversal vulnerability in the media_directory() Twig function that fails to validate filesystem paths, allowing authenticated users to enumerate and access files outside intended scope. Attackers with page authoring privileges can supply arbitrary filesystem paths to media_directory() and use the allow-listed filepath accessor on Medium objects to read file contents of any file matching configured media extensions that the web server process can access.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72697?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `getgrav/grav` | Packagist | All versions | 2.0.16 |
| `getgrav/grav` | Packagist | All versions | 2.0.16 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-72697?

Upgrade getgrav/grav to 2.0.16 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-72697 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-72697 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-72697 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-72697 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in getgrav grav, published on 25 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-72697 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- getgrav/grav (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 2.0.16
- getgrav/grav (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 2.0.16

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-2026-72697/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72697/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72697
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72697
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-72697

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72697/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.