CVE-2026-95628
Received Received - Intake

Path Traversal in Apache Camel Docling

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-95628, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-10-26

Last updated on: 2026-10-26

Assigner: Apache Software Foundation

Description

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in Apache Camel Docling component. This issue affects Apache Camel: from 4.15.0 before 4.18.5, from 4.19.0 before 4.22.2. DoclingProducer builds the command line of the external docling tool and appends to it the custom arguments supplied in the CamelDoclingCustomArguments header, a list of strings whose flags the fix for CVE-2026-40047 restricted to an allowlist. That fix also introduced validatePathSafety to keep path-like argument values inside the intended directory, but the method only looked for relative traversal: it rejected a value containing a traversal sequence such as ../ and a value whose normalized form still held a .. element. It never checked whether a value was an absolute path, and an absolute path without traversal segments contains neither, so it passed unchanged. Every path-like value went through this check, whether it was a separate list element following its flag or was attached to the flag after an equals sign, so an absolute path was accepted in either form, for example as the directory given to the allowlisted --artifacts-path flag, which tells docling where to find its model artifacts. Such a value reached the docling command line as given, so a party able to choose the custom arguments could point the docling process at any directory the Camel process can access, outside the working directory that the check was meant to keep path values in, which is the outcome the CVE-2026-40047 fix set out to prevent. Only the CLI mode, which is the default, passes custom arguments to docling. The header belongs to the Camel header namespace, which consumers applying Camel's default header filtering, such as the JMS and Kafka consumers, remove from incoming messages, so the issue is reached where a route forwards externally influenced values into the header or where a consumer maps incoming headers without that filtering. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.23.0, which fixes the issue. If users are on the 4.22.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.22.2. If users are on the 4.18.x releases stream, then they are suggested to upgrade to 4.18.5. The 4.15.x to 4.17.x and 4.19.x to 4.21.x release lines reached end of life before this issue was resolved and will not receive a fix, so deployments on them must move to a supported release. For deployments that cannot upgrade immediately, do not build the CamelDoclingCustomArguments header from values that originate outside the deployment, remove that header from messages that arrive from outside before they reach a docling endpoint, and make sure that consumers which map incoming message headers drop the Camel header namespace, so that only the route itself chooses the custom arguments.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-10-26
Last Modified
2026-10-26
Generated
2026-10-26
AI Q&A
2026-10-26
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 2 associated CPEs

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-22 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.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-95628 is a Path Traversal vulnerability in Apache Camel's Docling component. It occurs because the system fails to block absolute paths in custom CLI arguments, allowing attackers to access files outside the intended directory. The issue stems from incomplete validation in the validatePathSafety method, which only checked for relative path traversals like ../ but not absolute paths. This flaw enables directory traversal attacks if an attacker can influence the CamelDoclingCustomArguments header.

The vulnerability affects Apache Camel versions from 4.15.0 before 4.18.5, and from 4.19.0 before 4.22.2. The fix involves adding an isAbsolute() check to reject absolute paths in custom arguments, ensuring path values remain within the intended directory.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking Apache Camel Docling component versions and examining custom argument handling. Inspect Camel routes for usage of CamelDoclingCustomArguments header and verify if absolute paths are being passed. Check logs for docling CLI command invocations with suspicious path arguments.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to access sensitive files on the system where Apache Camel is running. If an attacker can manipulate the CamelDoclingCustomArguments header, they could point the docling process to any directory the Camel process can access, potentially reading or modifying files outside the intended working directory. This could lead to unauthorized data access, system compromise, or further attacks depending on the files accessed.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to non-compliance with GDPR and HIPAA by enabling unauthorized access to sensitive personal or health data. GDPR requires protecting personal data, while HIPAA mandates safeguarding protected health information. A breach via this vulnerability could result in data exposure, violating these regulations and potentially leading to legal penalties, fines, or reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately upgrade Apache Camel to version 4.23.0, 4.22.2, or 4.18.5 depending on your release stream. If immediate upgrade is not possible, remove the CamelDoclingCustomArguments header from incoming messages, avoid building this header from external values, and ensure consumers filter out Camel header namespace.

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