PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2026-40515 HKUDS CVE debrief
CVE-2026-40515 is a high-severity vulnerability in OpenHarness that allows attackers to read sensitive files due to incomplete path normalization. The vulnerability exists in OpenHarness before commit bd4df81 and is caused by the permission checker's incomplete path normalization, allowing attackers to invoke built-in grep and glob tools with sensitive root directories. Users of OpenHarness should be aware of this vulnerability and take steps to mitigate it.
- Vendor
- HKUDS
- Product
- OpenHarness
- CVSS
- HIGH 8.7
- CISA KEV
- Not listed in stored evidence
- Original CVE published
- 2026-04-17
- Original CVE updated
- 2026-07-14
- Advisory published
- 2026-04-17
- Advisory updated
- 2026-07-14
Who should care
Users of OpenHarness before commit bd4df81 should be aware of this vulnerability and take steps to mitigate it. This includes applying the patch provided by the vendor and ensuring that the system is up-to-date. Operators, administrators, and security teams should review the vulnerability and implement necessary security measures.
Technical summary
The vulnerability is caused by the permission checker in OpenHarness not properly evaluating configured path rules against sensitive root directories. This allows attackers to invoke built-in grep and glob tools with sensitive root directories, potentially leading to the disclosure of sensitive local file content, key material, configuration files, or directory contents. The issue is fixed in commit bd4df81.
Defensive priority
High
Recommended defensive actions
- Apply the patch provided by the vendor (commit bd4df81) to fix the vulnerability.
- Ensure that the system is up-to-date with the latest version of OpenHarness.
- Monitor the system for any suspicious activity.
- Implement additional security measures, such as access controls and file system permissions, to limit the impact of the vulnerability.
- Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified.
- Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review.
- Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented.
Evidence notes
The CVE record was published on 2026-04-17T17:17:09.067Z and was last modified on 2026-07-14T21:16:48.660Z. The NVD entry is currently Analyzed. The vulnerability exists in OpenHarness before commit bd4df81. Evidence is limited to CVE and NVD details.
Sources and references
Verified primary and authoritative sources
-
CVE-2026-40515 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-40515
CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
-
CVE-2026-40515 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40515
NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.
Supplemental references
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenHarness/commit/bd4df81f634f8c7cddcc3fdf7f561a13dcbf03ae
[email protected] - Patch
-
Source reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenHarness/pull/92
[email protected] - Exploit, Issue Tracking
-
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openharness-permission-bypass-via-grep-and-glob-root-argument
[email protected] - Third Party Advisory
Methodology and review provenance
AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.