JetBackup <= 3.1.19.8 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary Directory Deletion via Path Traversal in 'fileName' Parameter
Affected versions: *-3.1.19.8
Vulnerability type: CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected software, patched versions and attribution
The JetBackup – Backup, Restore & Migrate plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal leading to Arbitrary Directory Deletion in versions up to and including 3.1.19.8. This is due to insufficient input validation on the fileName parameter in the file upload handler. The plugin sanitizes the fileName parameter using sanitize_text_field(), which removes HTML tags but does not prevent path traversal sequences like '../'. The unsanitized filename is then directly concatenated in Upload::getFileLocation() without using basename() or validating the resolved path stays within the intended directory. When an invalid file is uploaded, the cleanup logic calls dirname() on the traversed path and passes it to Util::rm(), which recursively deletes the entire resolved directory. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with administrator-level access to traverse outside the intended upload directory and trigger deletion of critical WordPress directories such as wp-content/plugins, effectively disabling all installed plugins and causing severe site disruption.
JetBackup – Backup, Restore & Migrate
Affected versions: *-3.1.19.8
Patched versions: 3.1.20.3
Researcher credit: lucsob
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- Published
- April 16, 2026
- CVSS
- 4.9