High severity · published Jan 21, 2026
CVE-2026-24046
Backstage has a Possible Symlink Path Traversal in Scaffolder Actions
7.1
CVSS
0.5%
EPSS
No
On KEV
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.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
Low
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.5% · higher than 44% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
BA
backstage · backstage
@backstage/backend-defaults < 0.12.2; @backstage/backend-defaults >= 0.13.0, < 0.13.2; @backstage/backend-defaults >= 0.14.0, < 0.14.1; @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend < 2.2.2; @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend >= 3.0.0, < 3.0.2; @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend >= 3.1.0, < 3.1.1; +2 more · source: vendor
RH
Red Hat Developer Hub 1.8 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Developer Hub 1.9 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24046
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-24046
github.com
https://github.com/backstage/backstage/commit/c641c147ab371a9a8a2f5f67fdb7cb9c97ef345d
github.com
https://github.com/backstage/backstage/security/advisories/GHSA-rq6q-wr2q-7pgp
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6174
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6802
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-24046
bugzilla.redhat.com
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2431878
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