CVE-2026-16531
Description
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit a path traversal vulnerability in the PCP pmproxy logger servlet using a crafted hostname. This allows arbitrary file and directory creation, potentially leading to a denial of service.
Statement
Moderate: The pmproxy logger servlet in PCP is susceptible to a path traversal vulnerability, enabling an unauthenticated remote attacker to create arbitrary files and directories. This can lead to a denial of service or other impacts on systems where pmproxy is exposed on TCP port 44322, as the logger servlet is unconditionally active.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, restrict network access to TCP port 44322, which is used by the pmproxy service. This can be achieved by configuring a firewall to block incoming connections to this port. Alternatively, if the pmproxy service is not essential for your environment, it can be disabled.
To disable the pmproxy service:
sudo systemctl stop pmproxy
sudo systemctl disable pmproxy
Warning: Disabling pmproxy may impact the functionality of Performance Co-Pilot components that rely on it for data collection and logging.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 5.3 | N/A | 5.3 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | None |
| Integrity Impact | Low | N/A | Low |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
The attacker may be able to create or overwrite critical files that are used to execute code, such as programs or libraries.
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Files or Directories
The attacker may be able to overwrite or create critical files, such as programs, libraries, or important data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, appending a new account at the end of a password file may allow an attacker to bypass authentication.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Files or Directories
The attacker may be able read the contents of unexpected files and expose sensitive data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, by reading a password file, the attacker could conduct brute force password guessing attacks in order to break into an account on the system.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
The attacker may be able to overwrite, delete, or corrupt unexpected critical files such as programs, libraries, or important data. This may prevent the product from working at all and in the case of protection mechanisms such as authentication, it has the potential to lock out product users.
Acknowledgements
Red Hat would like to thank Francisco Alisson Bezerra (TIM Security Red Team Research, TIM S.p.A), Lucas Gabriel Alves (TIM Security Red Team Research, TIM S.p.A), and Massimiliano Brolli (TIM Security Red Team Research, TIM S.p.A) for reporting this issue.
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