Summary
Jupyter Server vulnerable to Path Traversal via incorrect root directory boundary check in getos_path()
Full technical description
A path traversal vulnerability exists in jupyter-server version 2.17.0 due to an incorrect root directory boundary check in the _get_os_path() function within jupyter_server/services/contents/fileio.py. The check uses startswith(root) without appending a trailing path separator, allowing sibling directories with names starting with the same prefix as root_dir to bypass the check. Additionally, the to_os_path() function in utils.py does not strip ".." from path parts, enabling traversal sequences to bypass the vulnerable check. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized read/write access to files in sibling directories, potentially exposing sensitive data in shared hosting environments.
Impact
CVE-2026-5422 has a CVSS score of 6.8 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2.18.2); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-5422? CVE-2026-5422 is a medium-severity security vulnerability in jupyter-server (pip), affecting versions < 2.18.2. It is fixed in 2.18.2.
- How severe is CVE-2026-5422? CVE-2026-5422 has a CVSS score of 6.8 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of jupyter-server are affected by CVE-2026-5422? jupyter-server (pip) versions < 2.18.2 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-5422? Yes. CVE-2026-5422 is fixed in 2.18.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-5422 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-5422 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-5422 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-5422? Upgrade
jupyter-serverto 2.18.2 or later.