---
id: CVE-2026-121546
title: ruTorrent before 5.3.20 Path Traversal via datadir Plugin Symlink Following
summary: >-
  ruTorrent before 5.3.20 contains a path traversal vulnerability in the datadir
  plugin that allows authenticated users to escape the topDirectory jail because
  correctDirectory() does not resolve symbolic links. Attackers can submit a
  data…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.9
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-59
vendor: Novik
product: ruTorrent
affected:
  - ruTorrent < 5.3.20
published: '2026-11-03'
updated: '2026-11-03'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-03T15:17:06.673Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-121546'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/Novik/ruTorrent/issues/3474'
    label: 'GitHub Issue #3474'
  - url: 'https://github.com/Novik/ruTorrent'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/Novik/ruTorrent/commit/2059ff12464b2ce14fd0f53df8d6b19fb6b8a5eb
    label: Fix commit
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/Novik/ruTorrent/blob/v5.3.19/plugins/datadir/action.php#L60
  - url: 'https://github.com/Novik/ruTorrent/blob/v5.3.19/php/settings.php#L526-L541'
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rutorrent-before-5.3.20-path-traversal-via-datadir-plugin-symlink-following
    label: >-
      VulnCheck Advisory: ruTorrent before 5.3.20 Path Traversal via datadir
      Plugin Symlink Following
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00402
epssPercentile: 0.34659
ingestedAt: '2026-11-05T19:30:42.976Z'
---

## Overview

ruTorrent before 5.3.20 contains a path traversal vulnerability in the datadir plugin that allows authenticated users to escape the topDirectory jail because correctDirectory() does not resolve symbolic links. Attackers can submit a datadir path through a symlink under their top directory to create directories and move torrent data to locations writable by the web server or rtorrent.

## Affected

- `ruTorrent < 5.3.20`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.