CVE-2026-96612

HIGH CVSS 4.0: 7.5 EPSS 0.44%
Updated Oct 16, 2026
Hexpm
Parameter Value
CVSS 7.5 (HIGH)
Affected Versions 0.6.0 — 2.5.2
Fixed In 2.5.2
Type CWE-22 (Path Traversal)
Vendor Hexpm
Public PoC No

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in hexpm hex allows a malicious package publisher to delete a directory outside the project's deps directory and extract package files into it when a developer fetches dependencies. A package release's requirements carry an app label that names the dependency's OTP application. Hex takes this label from the repository's signed registry and uses it as the dependency's application name without validating it (Hex.RemoteConverger.deps/2, Hex.Mix.to_lock/1).

Mix derives the dependency's checkout directory as deps/<app>, and Hex.SCM.update/1 runs File.rm_rf!/1 on that directory and unpacks the package into it. hex.pm only checks the label's length, so a publisher can set it to a value such as ../../target. When a project depends on such a release directly or transitively, mix deps.get or mix deps.update deletes the directory the label resolves to and writes the labelled package's files there. This happens before any dependency code is compiled.

This issue affects hex: from 0.6.0 before 2.5.2.

Attack Parameters

Attack Vector
Network
Can be exploited remotely
Attack Complexity
Low
Easy to exploit
Attack Requirements
Present
Additional conditions required
Privileges Required
None
No privileges needed
User Interaction
Active
User action required

Impact Assessment

Confidentiality
High
Complete data leak
Integrity
High
Complete data modification
Availability
High
Complete denial of service

CVSS Vector v4.0

Weakness Type (CWE)

Vulnerable Products 1

Configuration From (including) Up to (excluding)
Hexpm Hex
cpe:2.3:a:hexpm:hex:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
0.6.0 2.5.2