Adobe Connect: Path traversal leading to arbitrary file read
Summary
Adobe Connect contains a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) that allows a remote attacker without authentication to read files and directories outside the intended scope. No user interaction is required and the scope is changed, so the impact can reach beyond the Connect application. The CVSS base score is 10.0 (Critical). Adobe covers the issue in security bulletin APSB26-191 for Adobe Connect on Windows.
Affected
- Adobe Connect 12.12 and earlier (Windows), per Adobe APSB26-191
- CVE record: affected 0 to <= 12.8, 0 to <= 12.9, 0 to <= 12.10, 0 to <= 12.11, 0 to <= 12.12
Fixed in
- Adobe Connect 12.8.a
- Adobe Connect 12.9.a
- Adobe Connect 12.10.f
- Adobe Connect 12.11.i
- Adobe Connect 12.12.a
The fixed version depends on the installed release branch (Windows).
Workaround
- No vendor workaround known.
- Remove direct internet exposure of the Connect server until it is patched.
- Restrict access with a VPN or an access-controlled reverse proxy.
- Restrict access to administrative and file-serving paths.
Exploitation
- Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild for this update (APSB26-191).
- No public proof of concept was found at the time of writing.
Our recommendation
- Check whether any Adobe Connect server is reachable from the internet and remove that exposure.
- Apply the update from APSB26-191 with priority. The bulletin also contains other Critical and High issues, so patch the whole bulletin.
- Until the update is applied, restrict access and review logs for unusual file requests.
- Re-check the CISA KEV catalogue and public proof-of-concept sources in the coming days.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-191 www.adobe.com
- Radar Offseq: CVE-2026-121351 radar.offseq.com
- ZDI: The November 2026 Security Update Review www.zerodayinitiative.com
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-150 (previous Connect bulletin) helpx.adobe.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 10 Nov 2026, 23:23.
Original description (NVD)
Adobe Connect is affected by an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary file system read. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive files and directories outside the intended access scope. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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