# CVE-2026-65700: h2oai h2oGPT path traversal in OpenAI-compatible files API

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-65700-h2oai-h2ogpt-path-traversal-in-openai-compatible-files-api  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-23. Updated: 2026-07-23  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-65700 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-07-23

h2oGPT is an open-source generative AI platform. A security flaw in its file management system allows unauthorized individuals to bypass security checks and access the underlying server's files. An attacker could use this to steal sensitive data, delete critical system files, or take full control of the server by uploading malicious code.

Vendors: [H2O.ai](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/h2o-ai).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-65700 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-65700 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-65700?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 23 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** H2O.ai h2oGPT through 0.2.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-65700?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-65700 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-65700?** Check whether you run H2O.ai h2oGPT 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 exists in the `get_user_dir` function within `openai_server/backend_utils.py`. The application uses the bearer token from the Authorization header unsanitized as a path component via `os.path.join`. Because the default API key configuration is set to 'EMPTY', authentication is bypassed, allowing unauthenticated attackers to inject traversal sequences (e.g., `../`) into the bearer token. This enables arbitrary file read, write, and delete operations via the `/v1/files` endpoints. Attackers can achieve remote code execution by overwriting application files or startup hooks. The vendor repository was archived in February 2026, and no official patch is currently available; users should manually configure a strong API key to mitigate the risk.

## Affected products

- h2oai h2oGPT through 0.2.1

## Timeline

- 2026-02-26: other: Project archived by owner
- 2026-07-23: disclosed: Vulnerability disclosed by VulnCheck
- 2026-07-23: advisory

## References

- [https://github.com/geo-chen/oss/blob/main/h2ogpt.md](https://github.com/geo-chen/oss/blob/main/h2ogpt.md)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/h2ogpt-path-traversal-via-openai-compatible-files-api](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/h2ogpt-path-traversal-via-openai-compatible-files-api)