---
title: "CVE-2026-40076: OpenMRS Module Upload Vulnerable to Path Traversal (Zip Slip)"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-40076/
description: "CVE-2026-40076 (org.openmrs.web:openmrs-web (Maven)): OpenMRS Core is an open source electronic medical record system platform. In versions 2.7.8 and…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-05-06
date_modified: 2026-05-08
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-40076"
kev: false
cvss: 9.4
epss: 0.00902
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-40076: OpenMRS Module Upload Vulnerable to Path Traversal (Zip Slip)

**Signal:** Critical, preconditions apply. Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Not in CISA KEV , but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 0.9% , percentile 59: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.9% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 59% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (high (admin)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes org.openmrs.web:openmrs-web (Maven) <= 2.7.8, no fixed version listed ; org.openmrs.web:openmrs-web (Maven) >= 2.8.0, <= 2.8.5, no fixed version listed . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

OpenMRS Core is an open source electronic medical record system platform. In versions 2.7.8 and earlier and versions 2.8.0 through 2.8.5, the module upload endpoint at POST /openmrs/ws/rest/v1/module is vulnerable to a Zip Slip path traversal attack. During automatic extraction of uploaded .omod archives in WebModuleUtil.startModule(), ZIP entries under web/module/ are checked only to see whether the full entry path starts with .., and the remaining path is then concatenated into the destination path without normalization or a boundary check. A crafted archive can therefore include entries such as web/module/../../../../malicious.jsp and cause files to be written outside the intended module directory. An authenticated attacker with module upload access can write arbitrary files to locations such as the web application root and achieve remote code execution by uploading a JSP file and then requesting it. The issue is compounded by the fact that the module.allowwebadmin runtime property is enforced in the legacy UI controller but not in the REST API upload path, so deployments relying on that property to block web-based module administration remain exposed through the REST endpoint. This issue has been fixed in versions after 2.7.8 in the 2.7.x line and in version 2.8.6 and later.

## Affected packages

- Maven `org.openmrs.web:openmrs-web` <= 2.7.8 → fixed: none listed
- Maven `org.openmrs.web:openmrs-web` >= 2.8.0, <= 2.8.5 → fixed: none listed

## Affected products (CVE record)

- openmrs openmrs-core: <= 2.7.8, >= 2.8.0, <= 2.8.5

## Severity

- GitHub_M CVSS 4.0: 9.4 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H`
- GitHub CVSS 4.0: 9.4 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.90% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 59.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-78fc-9688-w8xw](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-78fc-9688-w8xw)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-40076](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-40076)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-40076](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40076)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openmrs/openmrs-core/security/advisories/GHSA-78fc-9688-w8xw)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-40076/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt