# CVE-2026-7521: SAML certificate deletion allows path traversal to delete arbitrary files outside the config directory

> An admin with SAML write permissions can delete arbitrary files outside the config directory via path traversal in the file removal endpoint.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Jul 2026
- **Updated:** 28 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rxgw-2f9c-c2hh, MINI-7r3m-mgh4-7rcv, MINI-h6v7-fjgp-5fxv

## What is CVE-2026-7521?

CVE-2026-7521 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Mattermost Mattermost Server, published on 28 Jul 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Mattermost versions 11.8.x <= 11.8.0, 11.7.x <= 11.7.3, 11.6.x <= 11.6.5, 10.11.x <= 10.11.20 fail to verify file deletion path which allows an admin with SAML system-console write permissions to delete arbitrary files outside the config directory from the server via the remove file endpoint.. Mattermost Advisory ID: MMSA-2026-00666

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-7521?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mattermost Mattermost Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-7521?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2026-7521 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-7521 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Mattermost Mattermost Server

- [CVE-2025-12419](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12419/): Account takeover on OAuth/OpenID-enabled servers (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2025-12421](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12421/): Account Takeover via Code Exchange Endpoint (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2025-4981](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-4981/): Path Traversal Leading to RCE by Any Authenticated Mattermost User (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2025-20051](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20051/): Arbitrary file read via block duplication in Mattermost Boards (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2025-25279](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-25279/): Arbitrary file read in Mattermost Boards via import & export board archive (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-7521 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-7521 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Mattermost Mattermost Server, published on 28 Jul 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-7521 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Mattermost Mattermost Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2026-7521/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-7521/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-7521
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-7521
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-7521

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-7521/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.