CVE-2026-4853
JetBackup <= 3.1.19.8 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary Directory Deletion via Path Traversal in 'fileName' Parameter
Description
The JetBackup – Backup, Restore & Migrate plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal leading to Arbitrary Directory Deletion in versions up to and including 3.1.19.8. This is due to insufficient input validation on the fileName parameter in the file upload handler. The plugin sanitizes the fileName parameter using sanitize_text_field(), which removes HTML tags but does not prevent path traversal sequences like '../'. The unsanitized filename is then directly concatenated in Upload::getFileLocation() without using basename() or validating the resolved path stays within the intended directory. When an invalid file is uploaded, the cleanup logic calls dirname() on the traversed path and passes it to Util::rm(), which recursively deletes the entire resolved directory. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with administrator-level access to traverse outside the intended upload directory and trigger deletion of critical WordPress directories such as wp-content/plugins, effectively disabling all installed plugins and causing severe site disruption.
INFO
Published Date :
April 17, 2026, 5:16 a.m.
Last Modified :
April 17, 2026, 5:16 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-4853
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
No affected product recoded yet
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update the JetBackup plugin to a secure version.
- Verify file upload handler input validation.
- Ensure path resolution is secure.
- Review directory deletion logic.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-4853.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-4853 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-4853
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-4853 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-4853 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Apr. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description The JetBackup – Backup, Restore & Migrate plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal leading to Arbitrary Directory Deletion in versions up to and including 3.1.19.8. This is due to insufficient input validation on the fileName parameter in the file upload handler. The plugin sanitizes the fileName parameter using sanitize_text_field(), which removes HTML tags but does not prevent path traversal sequences like '../'. The unsanitized filename is then directly concatenated in Upload::getFileLocation() without using basename() or validating the resolved path stays within the intended directory. When an invalid file is uploaded, the cleanup logic calls dirname() on the traversed path and passes it to Util::rm(), which recursively deletes the entire resolved directory. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with administrator-level access to traverse outside the intended upload directory and trigger deletion of critical WordPress directories such as wp-content/plugins, effectively disabling all installed plugins and causing severe site disruption. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N Added CWE CWE-22 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/backup/tags/3.1.17.5/src/JetBackup/Ajax/Calls/AddToQueue.php#L244 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/backup/tags/3.1.17.5/src/JetBackup/Ajax/Calls/AddToQueue.php#L64 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/backup/tags/3.1.17.5/src/JetBackup/Upload/Upload.php#L66 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/backup/trunk/src/JetBackup/Ajax/Calls/AddToQueue.php#L244 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/backup/trunk/src/JetBackup/Ajax/Calls/AddToQueue.php#L64 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/backup/trunk/src/JetBackup/Upload/Upload.php#L66 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3495633%40backup&new=3495633%40backup&sfp_email=&sfph_mail= Added Reference https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4aa0fa80-05dd-4fe1-b7b5-7ed0cf13053c?source=cve