ngx_cache_purge before 3.0.4 can allow file deletion via a symlink attack in certain situations where nginx and a served application (e.g., WordPress) run under the same user account. The attacker must be able to create a symlink inside the cache path. Version 3.0.4 fixes this for the case of a symlink created at an arbitrary earlier time, but does not resolve an applicable TOCTOU race condition. (The ngx_cache_purge module follows symlinks while walking the cache directory tree during purge operations. The module relies on nginx's ngx_walk_tree(), which relies on stat() and therefore follows symlinks.)
History

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Denji
Denji ngx Cache Purge
Vendors & Products Denji
Denji ngx Cache Purge

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Symlink‑Based File Deletion via ngx_cache_purge

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 03:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description ngx_cache_purge before 3.0.4 can allow file deletion via a symlink attack in certain situations where nginx and a served application (e.g., WordPress) run under the same user account. The attacker must be able to create a symlink inside the cache path. Version 3.0.4 fixes this for the case of a symlink created at an arbitrary earlier time, but does not resolve an applicable TOCTOU race condition. (The ngx_cache_purge module follows symlinks while walking the cache directory tree during purge operations. The module relies on nginx's ngx_walk_tree(), which relies on stat() and therefore follows symlinks.)
Weaknesses CWE-61
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: mitre

Published: 2026-10-12T02:27:15.378Z

Updated: 2026-10-14T17:18:00.208Z

Reserved: 2026-10-12T02:27:14.593Z

Link: CVE-2026-108981

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-10-12T03:17:18.503

Modified: 2026-10-16T19:56:15.773

Link: CVE-2026-108981

cve-icon Redhat

No data.