CVE-2026-72903 — Tabby: Windows SFTP path traversal allows a malicious server to write files outside the selected download directory
Tabby (formerly Terminus) is a highly configurable terminal emulator. Prior to 1.0.235, a malicious SFTP server can return a backslash traversal filename through entry.name. In tabby-ssh/src/session/sftp.ts, SFTPSession.readdir() and _makeFile() use POSIX path processing that preserves the backslashes as ordinary filename characters. In tabby-ssh/src/components/sftpPanel.component.ts, downloadFolderRecursive() propagates item.name into the local relative path. In tabby-electron/src/services/platform.service.ts, ElectronDirectoryDownload.createFile() passes that path to Windows-native path.join(), and in tabby-electron/src/sftpContextMenu.ts, EditSFTPContextMenu.edit() passes item.name to path.join() for the temporary edit path. Windows interprets the preserved backslashes and parent-directory components as traversal, allowing attacker-controlled content to be created or overwritten outside the selected download directory or temporary edit directory. This issue is fixed in version 1.0.235.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.5% (30-day exploitation probability)+6
- Technical severity (high)+6
- CISA SSVC: exploitation "poc"+5
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Eugeny Tabby).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Exploitation requires user interaction: tighten email/web filtering and warn affected users.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (file handling), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 2.8 | 5.2 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: security-advisories@github.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Monitor file creation in web directories and paths with traversal sequences (../).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · eugeny/tabby
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 8.1
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
3 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-46709 Tabby: Drag-and-drop path injection still allows RCE via shell command substitution (incomplete fix for CVE-2026-45038) Jul 15, 2026
- High CVE-2026-45035 Tabby: RCE via `tabby://run` URL Scheme May 15, 2026
- High CVE-2026-45037 Tabby: Unsafe protocol handler execution via terminal linkifier allows arbitrary OS protocol invocation May 15, 2026
- High CVE-2026-45038 Tabby: Dragging and Dropping a File into Tabby Can Lead to Code Execution May 15, 2026
- High CVE-2026-45036 Tabby auto-confirms ZMODEM detection on terminal output, leading to shell command execution from displayed file content under fish, bash, and zsh May 15, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-72903 is "Tabby: Windows SFTP path traversal allows a malicious server to write files outside the selected download directory", rated High. It affects Tabby (Eugeny); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 8.1 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.49% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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