CVE-2026-84939

Apache FreeMarker, Apache FreeMarker: A malformed locale may be exploitable for path traversal attacks

Published Sep 10, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.1 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Path traversal vulnerability in Apache FreeMarker template loading mechanism, if the attacker can specify an arbitrary malformed locale identifier to FreeMarker, and the localized lookup configuration setting is enabled (it's by default enabled).

This issue affects Apache FreeMarker from 2.2.0 through 2.3.34.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.3.35. Disabling localized lookup in previous versions also mitigates this.

Note that even in versions affected by this vulnerability, the files that can be loaded remain restricted by the TemplateLoader that FreeMarker is configured to use. In particular, FileTemplateLoader prevents attempts to traverse outside the baseDir specified in its constructor. Other TemplateLoader implementations may allow access outside their designated base directory, but they are still constrained by the underlying storage mechanism—for example, a loader wrapping a Java class loader can only access resources that the class loader can load, while one wrapping a web application context can only access resources available through that context.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-27j2-h3m2-8237 Apache FreeMarker template loading mechanism vulnerable to path traversal
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apache:freemarker:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache freemarker
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache freemarker
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Path traversal vulnerability in Apache FreeMarker template loading mechanism, if the attacker can specify an arbitrary malformed locale identifier to FreeMarker, and the localized lookup configuration setting is enabled (it's by default enabled). This issue affects Apache FreeMarker from 2.2.0 through 2.3.34. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.3.35. Disabling localized lookup in previous versions also mitigates this. Note that even in versions affected by this vulnerability, the files that can be loaded remain restricted by the TemplateLoader that FreeMarker is configured to use. In particular, FileTemplateLoader prevents attempts to traverse outside the baseDir specified in its constructor. Other TemplateLoader implementations may allow access outside their designated base directory, but they are still constrained by the underlying storage mechanism—for example, a loader wrapping a Java class loader can only access resources that the class loader can load, while one wrapping a web application context can only access resources available through that context.
Title Apache FreeMarker, Apache FreeMarker: A malformed locale may be exploitable for path traversal attacks
Weaknesses CWE-23
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
apache
Published
Updated
Sep 10, 2026, 3:58 PM
Reserved
Sep 2, 2026, 4:35 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Sep 10, 2026, 6:17 AM
Modified
Sep 11, 2026, 1:06 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Sep 10, 2026, 5:07 AM