# CVE-2026-90915: Path traversal in Joomla! CMS

> Attackers can delete arbitrary directories via path traversal in the cache purge action, requiring a patch to prevent data loss.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 29 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 30 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** BIT-joomla-2026-90915, GHSA-fgrv-mjcr-vg2p

## What is CVE-2026-90915?

CVE-2026-90915 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Joomla Joomla\!, published on 29 Sep 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Joomla! Core - [20260905] - Core - Arbitrary directory deletion via cache purge action in Joomla 4.0.0-5.4.8, 6.0.0-6.1.3 -An improper validation of the cache group name allowed path traverals in the file storage of the caching layer, resulting in arbitrary directory deletions.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-90915?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including joomla. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `joomla` | Bitnami | From 4.0.0 | 5.4.8, 6.1.3 |

Products: Joomla Joomla\!.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-90915?

Upgrade joomla to a fixed version for your release line: 5.4.8 or 6.1.3.

## Is CVE-2026-90915 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-90915 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Joomla Joomla\!

- [CVE-2016-10033](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10033/): PHPMailer Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-23752](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23752/): Joomla! Improper Access Control (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-48902](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-48902/): Joomla! Core - [20260518] - Transport encryption downgrade for password and username reset links (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-25226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-25226/): [20250401] - Joomla Framework - SQL injection vulnerability in quoteNameStr method of Database package (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-23795](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23795/): [20220303] - Core - User row are not bound to a authentication mechanism (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-90915 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-90915 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Joomla Joomla\!, published on 29 Sep 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-90915 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- joomla (Bitnami): affected from 4.0.0; fixed in 5.4.8, 6.1.3

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-2026-90915/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-90915/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-90915
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90915
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-90915

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-90915/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.