CVE-2026-81849

Path traversal in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent

HIGH
8.8
CVSS Score
Published: August 28, 2026 at 06:02 PM UTC
Updated: August 31, 2026 at 07:17 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorAmazon Ssm Agent

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Severity
HIGH8.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.9%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent before 3.3.4515.0 might allow an authenticated remote user whose ssm:SendCommand permission is restricted to the AWS-DownloadContent document, to write arbitrary files outside the intended download directory with root privileges, via crafted object keys in the S3 source the document is directed to retrieve. This issue may lead to arbitrary code execution as root if specific sensitive files are overwritten. To remediate this issue, customers should upgrade amazon-ssm-agent to version 3.3.4515.0 or later.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 3.3.4515.0
Affected range stops below 3.3.4515.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

8.8HIGHAMZN
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusAWAITING ANALYSIS
CWE
CWE-23

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