CVE-2026-24046
January 21, 2026
Backstage is an open framework for building developer portals. Multiple Scaffolder actions and archive extraction utilities were vulnerable to symlink-based path traversal attacks. An attacker with access to create and execute Scaffolder templates could exploit symlinks to read arbitrary files via the "debug:log" action by creating a symlink pointing to sensitive files (e.g., "/etc/passwd", configuration files, secrets); delete arbitrary files via the "fs:delete" action by creating symlinks pointing outside the workspace, and write files outside the workspace via archive extraction (tar/zip) containing malicious symlinks. This affects any Backstage deployment where users can create or execute Scaffolder templates. This vulnerability is fixed in "@backstage/backend-defaults" versions 0.12.2, 0.13.2, 0.14.1, and 0.15.0; "@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend" versions 2.2.2, 3.0.2, and 3.1.1; and "@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node" versions 0.11.2 and 0.12.3. Users should upgrade to these versions or later. Some workarounds are available. Follow the recommendation in the Backstage Threat Model to limit access to creating and updating templates, restrict who can create and execute Scaffolder templates using the permissions framework, audit existing templates for symlink usage, and/or run Backstage in a containerized environment with limited filesystem access.
Affected Packages
https://github.com/backstage/backstage.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.47.0-next.0 <v1.47.0Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.47.0https://github.com/backstage/backstage.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.43.0-next.0 <v1.43.4Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.43.4https://github.com/backstage/backstage.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.45.0-next.0 <v1.45.4Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.45.4https://github.com/backstage/backstage.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v1.46.0-next.0 <v1.46.4Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v1.46.4@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=0.0.0-nightly-20230124022523 <0.11.2Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 0.11.2@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=3.1.0 <3.1.1Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.1.1@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=0.0.0-nightly-2020972106 <2.2.2Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 2.2.2@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=0.12.0 <0.12.3Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 0.12.3@backstage/backend-defaults (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=0.13.0 <0.13.2Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 0.13.2@backstage/backend-defaults (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=0.0.0-nightly-20220811024336 <0.12.2Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 0.12.2@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=3.0.0 <3.0.2Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.0.2@backstage/backend-defaults (NPM):
Affected version(s) >=0.14.0 <0.14.1Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 0.14.1Related ResourcesĀ (4)
Do you need more information?
Contact UsCVSS v4
Base Score:
7.1
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
HIGH
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
HIGH
Vulnerable System Integrity
NONE
Vulnerable System Availability
LOW
Subsequent System Confidentiality
HIGH
Subsequent System Integrity
NONE
Subsequent System Availability
LOW
CVSS v3
Base Score:
7.1
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
HIGH
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
NONE
Availability
LOW
Weakness Type (CWE)
EPSS
Base Score:
0.02