GHSA-wwfh-h76j-fc44: hono: Path traversal in `serve-static` on Windows via encoded backslash (`%5C`)
Summary
On Windows hosts, an encoded backslash (%5C) in the request path decodes to \, which the Windows path resolver treats as a separator. serve-static then resolves a single URL segment such as admin\secret.txt into a nested file under the root and serves it, letting an attacker read static files meant to be protected behind prefix-mounted middleware. Directory escape (..) remains blocked.
Details
The router splits paths only on /, so /admin%5Csecret.txt is one segment and middleware on /admin/* does not run. The serve-static guard rejects ./.. and consecutive separators but lets a lone \ through; on Windows the file resolver re-splits it into the protected subtree.
This affects Windows hosts serving static files via the Node, Bun, or Deno adapters that guard a static subtree with prefix-mounted middleware.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can read static files under a middleware-guarded prefix on Windows hosts. The read stays within the configured root; escape outside the root is not possible.
Details
Original advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wwfh-h76j-fc44
Exploitation outlook
EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.
- Low exploitation riskCVE-2026-542860.39% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 32% of all scored CVEs.
Referenced CVEs
| CVE | CSIRTS overview | External |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-54286 | coverage & exploitation status | NVD · CVE.org |
Same CVEs, other sources
How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.
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