# CVE-2026-44076: Netatalk shell injection in Spotlight volume path

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44076-netatalk-shell-injection-in-spotlight-volume-path  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-21. Updated: 2026-05-21  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44076 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.7 · Published 2026-05-21

Netatalk is an open-source implementation of the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) used to provide file services for Apple Macintosh computers. A security flaw in how the software handles storage volume paths could allow an administrator or a user with high-level system access to execute unauthorized commands on the server. While this requires existing high-level access to the configuration, it could lead to a full system takeover or persistent unauthorized access.

Technologies: [Netatalk](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/netatalk). Vendors: [Netatalk](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/netatalk).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44076 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44076 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44076?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.7, published 21 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Netatalk 3.1.0 through 4.4.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44076?** A patch was published on 2026-05-21: Fixed in version 4.4.3 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-44076 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44076?** Check whether you run Netatalk 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.

## Technical details

A shell injection vulnerability (CWE-78) exists in Netatalk's Spotlight service setup. The root cause is the improper neutralization of administrator-configured volume paths when they are embedded into single-quoted shell commands. An attacker with high privileges (PR:H) who can influence the configuration files can inject arbitrary OS commands that execute when the service starts or reconfigures. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning it cannot be exploited remotely via the AFP protocol alone. The issue is fixed in version 4.4.3 or by applying a specific security patch to version 4.4.2.

## Affected products

- Netatalk Netatalk 3.1.0 through 4.4.2

## Timeline

- 2026-05-13: disclosed: Initial disclosure date
- 2026-05-21: advisory: NVD publication date
- 2026-05-21: patched: Fixed in version 4.4.3

## References

- [https://netatalk.io/security/CVE-2026-44076](https://netatalk.io/security/CVE-2026-44076)

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