# CVE-2026-43891: dgtlmoon changedetection.io Arbitrary Local File Read via Backup Restore

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-43891-dgtlmoon-changedetection-io-arbitrary-local-file-read-via-backup  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-12. Updated: 2026-06-05  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-43891 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-05-12

changedetection.io is a tool used to monitor websites for changes. A security flaw allows an attacker to read sensitive files from the server's local storage by uploading a specially crafted backup file. This could lead to the exposure of system passwords, configuration files, and private application data.

Technologies: [changedetection.io (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/changedetection-io). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-43891 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-43891 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-43891?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 12 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** changedetection.io (PyPI) <= 0.54.10, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=0.55.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-43891?** Yes. changedetection.io (PyPI): upgrade to 0.55.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-43891 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-43891?** Check whether you run changedetection.io (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- changedetection.io (PyPI): upgrade to 0.55.1 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "changedetection.io>=0.55.1"
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in the backup restore logic of changedetection.io. When a backup ZIP is restored, the application extracts and copies watch directories into the live datastore without validating the contents of 'history.txt'. The application's path resolution logic in 'model/Watch.py' fails to enforce a trust boundary; if a history entry contains path separators and the referenced file exists, it is accepted as a valid snapshot path. An attacker can provide a crafted backup containing absolute paths (e.g., /etc/passwd). When a user views the 'Preview' or accesses the history API for that watch, the application performs a direct file read on the attacker-specified path and returns the content. This has been patched in version 0.55.1.

## Affected products

- dgtlmoon changedetection.io <= 0.54.10

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-43891
- GHSA-8757-69j2-hx56
- PYSEC-2026-30

## Timeline

- 2026-04-27: advisory: GitHub Advisory published
- 2026-05-05: disclosed
- 0.55.1: patched

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56](https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56)
- [https://github.com/minhlh56](https://github.com/minhlh56)
- [https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56/repos](https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/126383621?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/126383621?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/minhlh56/events%7B/privacy%7D)

## Related threats

- [dgtlmoon changedetection.io path traversal in static content route](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-25527-dgtlmoon-changedetection-io-path-traversal-in-static-content)
- [PYSEC-2026-1241 - ChangeDetection.io XSS in watch overview](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-52558-changedetection-io-xss-in-watch-overview)
- [PYSEC-2026-1242 - changedetection.io Vulnerable to Improper Input Validation Leading to LFR/Path Traversal](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-56509-changedetection-io-vulnerable-to-improper-input-validation)
- [PYSEC-2026-1239 - changedetection.io path traversal using file URI scheme without supplying hostname](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-51998-changedetection-io-path-traversal-using-file-uri-scheme-without)
- [PYSEC-2026-1240 - changedetection.io Path Traversal](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-51483-changedetection-io-path-traversal)