CVE-2026-81849 Path traversal in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent
Authenticated users with restricted permissions can write arbitrary files as root via path traversal, potentially leading to code execution.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-81849?
CVE-2026-81849 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in amazon-ssm-agent, published on 28 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent before 3.3.4515.0 might allow an authenticated remote user whose ssm:SendCommand permission is restricted to the AWS-DownloadContent document, to write arbitrary files outside the intended download directory with root privileges, via crafted object keys in the S3 source the document is directed to retrieve. This issue may lead to arbitrary code execution as root if specific sensitive files are overwritten.
To remediate this issue, customers should upgrade amazon-ssm-agent to version 3.3.4515.0 or later.
Weakness: CWE-23
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-81849?
How do I fix CVE-2026-81849?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-81849 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-81849 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-81849 in the wild and no public exploit code.