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CVE-2026-59310: Broadcom VMware vCenter Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-59310 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Broadcom VMware vCenter, along with 1 other product in NVD’s configuration data. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-08-18, which means exploitation in the wild has been observed.

Vulnerability description

VMware vCenter contains a directory traversal vulnerability in the Syslog server. A malicious actor with network access to vCenter may exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

• Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
• Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
• Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
• User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
• Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
• Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
• Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
• Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

Affected products

• VMware vCenter Server: before 8.0; 8.0; 8.0 a; 8.0 b; 8.0 c; 8.0 update1; 8.0 update1a; 8.0 update1b; 8.0 update1c; 8.0 update1d; 8.0 update1e; 8.0 update2

References

• https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/38017
• https://medium.com/@quirso_de/active-exploitation-of-cve-2026-59310-361-victim-ips-across-47-countries-9783187cc6ff
• https://medium.com/@quirso_de/global-exploitation-of-cve-2026-59310-by-suspected-chinese-nexus-apt-related-cve-2026-59309-443a79e1466d
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-59310