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CVE-2026-47754 – Unauthenticated Path Traversal / Arbitrary File Read – NCEAS Metacat 1.x through 2.

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Summary

CVE-2026-47754 is an unauthenticated path traversal vulnerability (combined with a missing authorization check) in NCEAS Metacat. It affects all 1.x versions and 2.x versions through 2.19.1, allowing remote attackers to read arbitrary files accessible to the Tomcat process. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.3 (Critical).

Technical details

  • Root cause: The ArchiveHandler.readArchiveEntry() method concatenates the user-supplied archiveEntryName parameter directly into a filesystem path without validation, and the permission-verification function is commented out (CWE-22 Path Traversal, CWE-862 Missing Authorization).
  • Trigger conditions: A remote, unauthenticated attacker sends a GET request to the legacy 1.x API action=read endpoint with path traversal sequences in the archiveEntryName parameter.
  • Attack vector: Network, no authentication and no user interaction required.
  • Impact: Disclosure of arbitrary files readable by the Tomcat process, including credentials, private keys, and embargoed research data.

Affected software

  • NCEAS Metacat: all 1.x versions
  • NCEAS Metacat: 2.x versions through 2.19.1

Severity

CVSS v3.1 base score: 9.3 (Critical)
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Immediate: Upgrade to Metacat 3.0.0 or later (which removed the legacy 1.x API).
  • If no patch: Disable the 1.x API servlets in Tomcat’s web.xml by removing the servlet mappings for MetaCatServlet and related legacy handlers, then restart Tomcat.

How IONIX identifies potentially affected assets

IONIX matches the following signals against data already collected when it crawled the asset; identifying the technology sends no request beyond that crawl.

  • Page title: Metacat Configuration
  • Raw response body: /docs/_static/metacat-logo-darkgray.png, /docs/_static/metacat-logo-white.png, id="metacatui-app"
  • JavaScript in the rendered page: Got token; sending login request to metacat

References

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How IONIX’s External Exposure Management Platform Detects and Validates
Zero-Days to Shrink MTTR

1

Map your entire attack surface (continously)

IONIX uses multi-factor discovery methods, including DNS analysis, certificate mapping, metadata inspection, and more, to automatically map every internet-facing asset across your environment. This includes cloud instances, third-party platforms, shadow IT, and even forgotten infrastructure that traditional tools miss.

2

Monitor for new CVEs

Dozens of threat intel feeds using agentic technology are continuously analyzed to detect the appearance of proof-of-concept code, exploit kits, and indicators of active targeting. IONIX goes further by applying AI to proactively evaluate whether emerging vulnerabilities are likely to be exploited, even before PoCs go public.

3

Identify Potential External Exposures

Not all CVEs matter. IONIX filters vulnerabilities by asking attacker-centric questions: Can it be reached from the internet? Does it require authentication? Is it being exploited in the wild? This dramatically reduces noise and focuses teams on threats that can actually be weaponized.

4

Create Safe, Scalable Exploit Validations

IONIX transforms real-world PoCs into safe, non-intrusive test payloads that can be run in production environments without disruption. These simulations are precisely targeted to the systems that are vulnerable, ensuring rapid validation without unnecessary load.

5

Execute Exploit Validations

By combining context about software stack, versioning, exposure status, and reachability, IONIX ensures that only the right payloads are executed against the right assets, maximizing efficiency and minimizing risk.

6

Drive Fast and Actionable Remediation

Results are routed through integrations with ticketing, SOAR, and SIEM tools. Issues are written in plain language, bundled into remediation clusters, and prioritized based on asset criticality, exploitability, and blast radius. This shortens mean time to remediation (MTTR) and empowers teams to act with confidence.

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  • Mapping of all Assets with this Technology
  • Identification of potentially exposed assets to this CVE
  • Confirmation of verified exploitable assets
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