# CVE-2026-5656: Wireshark path traversal in Configuration Profile import

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-5656-wireshark-path-traversal-in-configuration-profile-import  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-01. Updated: 2026-06-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-5656 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-05-01

Wireshark, a widely used network protocol analyzer, is vulnerable to a security flaw in its configuration profile import feature. If a user is convinced to import a specially crafted ZIP file, an attacker can place malicious files on the user's computer. This could lead to the application crashing or the execution of unauthorized commands, potentially allowing an attacker to take control of the system when Wireshark is next launched.

Technologies: [Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-appstream), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux-appstream-eus). Vendors: [Red Hat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/red-hat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-5656 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-5656 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-5656?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 1 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream 10.2; Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS 10.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-5656?** A patch was published on 2026-05-26: Red Hat released security updates for RHEL 10 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-5656 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-5656?** Check whether you run Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream or Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS 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 path traversal vulnerability, specifically a 'Zip-Slip' flaw, exists in the WiresharkZipHelper::unzip() function within the Configuration Profile import feature. The application fails to validate that file paths extracted from a ZIP archive remain within the intended target directory, allowing an attacker to use '../' sequences to write files to arbitrary locations. On POSIX-compliant systems, an attacker can exploit this by planting a malicious Lua script in the local plugins directory (~/.local/lib/wireshark/plugins/), which Wireshark automatically executes upon its next startup. Exploitation requires a user to manually import a malformed ZIP file. The issue is resolved in versions 4.6.5 and 4.4.15.

## Affected products

- Wireshark Foundation Wireshark 4.6.0 to 4.6.4, 4.4.0 to 4.4.14
- Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) 10.2
- Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) 10.0

## Timeline

- 2026-04-29: advisory: Wireshark published vendor advisory wnpa-sec-2026-21
- 2026-04-30: disclosed: Vulnerability reported to GitLab/Wireshark Foundation
- 2026-05-01: advisory: CVE-2026-5656 published to NVD
- 2026-05-26: patched: Red Hat released security updates for RHEL 10

## References

- [https://gitlab.com/wireshark/wireshark/-/issues/21115](https://gitlab.com/wireshark/wireshark/-/issues/21115)
- [https://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2026-21.html](https://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2026-21.html)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20600](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20600)
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26182](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26182)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-5656](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-5656)
- [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2464276](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2464276)
- [https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-5656.json](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-5656.json)

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