CVE-2026-108981
LOW 3.6ngx_cache_purge before 3.0.4 can allow file deletion via a symlink attack in certain situations where nginx and a served application (e.g., WordPress) run under the same user account. The attacker must be able to create a symlink inside the cache path. Version 3.0.4 fixes this for the case of a symlink created at an arbitrary earlier time, but does not resolve an applicable TOCTOU race condition. (The ngx_cache_purge module follows symlinks while walking the cache directory tree during purge operations. The module relies on nginx's ngx_walk_tree(), which relies on stat() and therefore follows symlinks.)
No known exploitation, public exploit, or elevated probability at this time. Track for changes.
Exploitation likelihood
0.2%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 6th percentile
Impact if exploited
3.6CVSS 3.1 · LOW
- ConfidentialityNone
- IntegrityLow
- AvailabilityLow
What an attacker needs
- ⚠Access: Requires local access to the host
- ⚠Privileges: Requires a low-privilege account
- ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
- ⚠Complexity: Needs a race window or specific setup
✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it
Proof of concept
No public PoC is currently catalogued.
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Data snapshot:
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-61: UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
References and research data (JSON)
All CVSS metrics
- LOW 3.6 v3.1 · CNA Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L - LOW 3.6 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
References
Patches & mitigations
- https://github.com/nginx-modules/ngx_cache_purge/pull/72 CVE record · mitre · Updated 2026-10-12T02:27:15.378Z
NVD · CVE-2026-108981 · Updated 2026-10-16T19:56:15.773 - https://github.com/nginx-modules/ngx_cache_purge/commit/a6da1352f52a8a02dd6828e88c39ed42fddcee96 CVE record · mitre · Updated 2026-10-12T02:27:15.378Z
NVD · CVE-2026-108981 · Updated 2026-10-16T19:56:15.773
Advisories
- https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2026-97159 EUVD · EUVD-2026-97159
Technical & other
- https://github.com/nginx-modules/ngx_cache_purge/releases/tag/3.0.4CVE record · mitre · Updated 2026-10-12T02:27:15.378Z
NVD · CVE-2026-108981 · Updated 2026-10-16T19:56:15.773