CVE-2026-24046
High · 7.1CVSS
7.1
EPSS
0.5%
Published
Jan 21, 2026
CISA due date
—
The record
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.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Introduced | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | @backstage/backend-defaults | 0 | 0.12.2 |
| npm | @backstage/backend-defaults | 0.13.0 | 0.13.2 |
| npm | @backstage/backend-defaults | 0.14.0 | 0.14.1 |
| npm | @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend | 0 | 2.2.2 |
| npm | @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend | 3.0.0 | 3.0.2 |
| npm | @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend | 3.1.0 | 3.1.1 |
| npm | @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node | 0 | 0.11.2 |
| npm | @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node | 0.12.0 | 0.12.3 |
Related vulnerabilities
- GHSA-rq6q-wr2q-7pgp Backstage has a Possible Symlink Path Traversal in Scaffolder Actions Same vulnerability
- CVE-2026-24048 Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals, and… Also affects @backstage/backend-defaults
- GHSA-q2x5-4xjx-c6p9 Backstage has a Possible SSRF when reading from allowed URL's in `backend.reading.allow` Also affects @backstage/backend-defaults
- CVE-2026-32237 Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals. Also affects @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend
- GHSA-8wq8-6859-qx77 @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend: Possible exposure of defaultEnvironment secrets… Also affects @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend
- CVE-2026-29184 Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals. Also affects @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend
- GHSA-8qp7-fhr9-fw53 @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend Vulnerable to Potential Session Token Exfiltration… Also affects @backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend
- CVE-2026-81163 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')… CWE-22