Metasploit Framework ios_image_gather Path Traversal Leading to Arbitrary File Write and Code Execution
The Metasploit Framework post module post/apple_ios/gather/ios_image_gather is affected by a relative path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22). The module interpolates file names taken from a Meterpreter directory listing — data fully controlled by a hostile or tampered iOS device — directly into the local destination path passed to client.fs.file.download_file(), with no sanitization. The underlying stdapi sink (lib/rex/post/meterpreter/extensions/stdapi/fs/file.rb) writes to whatever path is supplied, so a listing entry such as ../../msfconsole.rc escapes the intended ~/.msf4/loot/ directory and overwrites ~/.msf4/msfconsole.rc, a resource file that every msfconsole invocation automatically executes at startup (lib/msf/ui/console/driver.rb:196). An attacker-controlled device that lures an operator into running this gather module achieves an arbitrary file write as the operator; because the written msfconsole.rc can load a second written file (a Ruby plugin whose top-level code runs on require), this converts into persistent code execution and an interactive shell as the operator (frequently root) on the pentester's workstation at the next console launch. The same traversal was previously fixed upstream in the recursive downloader (stdapi/fs/dir.rb scrubs separators); this module omitted the equivalent scrub. The fix applies the same separator scrub (or File.basename) to listing entries before building the local path.
CVE-2026-87690
Primary source · Revision 1
Imported from structured advisory data. Source references identify upstream records or fields; verify affected versions and your deployed configuration.
Security context
Source reference: cve:CVE-2026-87690
Metasploit Framework
Source reference: /containers/cna/affected/0/product
- Affected versions
- Not stated in this record
- Fixed versions
- Not stated in this record
- Prerequisites
- Not stated in this record
Structured affected-version data
Original package identities and version rules from this source.
[
{
"repo": "https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework",
"vendor": "Rapid7",
"modules": [
"post/apple_ios/gather/ios_image_gather"
],
"product": "Metasploit Framework",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"lessThan": "6.5.5",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.5.5",
"versionType": "semver"
}
],
"platforms": [
"Linux",
"Windows",
"macOS"
],
"defaultStatus": "unaffected"
}
]- Related CVEs
- CVE-2026-87690
Source reference:
/cveMetadata/cveId
Publisher severity
high
Source reference: /containers/cna/metrics
- Event
- #21734 · Revision 1
- Added to Heist Feed
- Publisher date