Backstage has a Possible Symlink Path Traversal in Scaffolder Actions

Summary

CVE	CVE-2026-24046
State	PUBLISHED
Assigner	GitHub_M
Source Priority	CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published	2026-01-21 23:15:53 UTC
Updated	2026-06-30 03:17:36 UTC
Description	Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals. Multiple Scaffolder actions and archive extraction utilities were vulnerable to symlink-based path traversal attacks. An attacker with access to create and execute Scaffolder templates could exploit symlinks to read arbitrary files via the `debug:log` action by creating a symlink pointing to sensitive files (e.g., `/etc/passwd`, configuration files, secrets); delete arbitrary files via the `fs:delete` action by creating symlinks pointing outside the workspace, and write files outside the workspace via archive extraction (tar/zip) containing malicious symlinks. This affects any Backstage deployment where users can create or execute Scaffolder templates. This vulnerability is fixed in `@backstage/backend-defaults` versions 0.12.2, 0.13.2, 0.14.1, and 0.15.0; `@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend` versions 2.2.2, 3.0.2, and 3.1.1; and `@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node` versions 0.11.2 and 0.12.3. Users should upgrade to these versions or later. Some workarounds are available. Follow the recommendation in the Backstage Threat Model to limit access to creating and updating templates, restrict who can create and execute Scaffolder templates using the permissions framework, audit existing templates for symlink usage, and/or run Backstage in a containerized environment with limited filesystem access.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 9.1 CRITICAL from ADP

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L

EPSS: 0.004780000 probability, percentile 0.377730000 (date 2026-07-01)

Problem Types: CWE-22 | CWE-59 | CWE-22 CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') | CWE-59 CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') | CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

Version	Source	Type	Score	Severity	Vector
3.1	ADP	CVSS	9.1	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L`
3.1	[email protected]	Secondary	7.1	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L`
3.1	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	Secondary	9.1	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L`
3.1	CNA	DECLARED	7.1	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L`

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Changed

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

Low

Availability

Low

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L

Vendor Declared Affected Products

Source	Vendor	Product	Version	Platforms
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/backend-defaults < 0.12.2	Not specified
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/backend-defaults >= 0.13.0, < 0.13.2	Not specified
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/backend-defaults >= 0.14.0, < 0.14.1	Not specified
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend < 2.2.2	Not specified
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend >= 3.0.0, < 3.0.2	Not specified
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend >= 3.1.0, < 3.1.1	Not specified
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node < 0.11.2	Not specified
CNA	Backstage	Backstage	affected @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node >= 0.12.0, < 0.12.3	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	Red Hat Developer Hub 1.8	Not specified	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	Red Hat Developer Hub 1.9	Not specified	Not specified

References

Reference	Source	Link	Tags
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6802	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	access.redhat.com
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6174	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	access.redhat.com
github.com/backstage/backstage/security/advisories/GHSA-rq6q-wr2q-7pgp	[email protected]	github.com
github.com/backstage/backstage/commit/c641c147ab371a9a8a2f5f67fdb7cb9c97...	[email protected]	github.com
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-24046.json	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	security.access.redhat.com
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-24046	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	access.redhat.com
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	bugzilla.redhat.com
CVE Program record	CVE.ORG	www.cve.org	canonical
NVD vulnerability detail	NVD	nvd.nist.gov	canonical, analysis

No vendor comments have been submitted for this CVE.

Additional Advisory Data

Source	Time	Event
ADP	2026-01-21T23:00:53.856Z	Reported to Red Hat.
ADP	2026-01-21T22:36:30.794Z	Made public.

Solutions

ADP: RHSA-2026:6174: Red Hat Developer Hub 1.8

ADP: RHSA-2026:6802: Red Hat Developer Hub 1.9

Workarounds

ADP: To mitigate this issue, consider implementing strict access controls for Backstage Scaffolder templates. Restrict the ability to create and execute Scaffolder templates to trusted users only, utilizing the Backstage permissions framework. Additionally, audit existing templates for any symlink usage and consider running Backstage within a containerized environment with a highly restricted filesystem to limit potential impact.

There are currently no legacy QID mappings associated with this CVE.