# CVE-2026-118485: Axel Download Accelerator Path Traversal via URL Filename Decoding

Status: published. Published: 2026-10-28. Updated: 2026-11-06.

Axel Download Accelerator 2.17.14 and earlier performs URL percent-decoding (http_decode()) on the output filename after the URL has been parsed and the filename component extracted. This allows an attacker to embed %2e%2e%2f (URL-encoded ../) sequences in the URL path. These sequences survive the URL parser intact (they contain no literal / characters) but are decoded into directory traversal sequences before the output file is opened for writing. As a result, a crafted URL can cause axel to write downloaded content to arbitrary filesystem paths relative to the current working directory.

## Remediation

- fix: Apply patch provided by Axel. Will be fixed in 2.17.16 as well (source: CNA: OCD)
- fix: The reporting source identifies this reference as a patch. Check the advisory for affected versions and supported release branches. (source: CNA: OCD) — https://github.com/axel-download-accelerator/axel/pull/483/changes/4e76e1a1dd1c4ea11b445e2c45e4ee257c76314e

## Affected products and versions

- Axel Download Accelerator / Axel: ≥ 0; ≤ 2.17.14 (affected, git). Source: CNA: OCD

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 4.0: 7 (high); CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N; source: CNA: OCD

- CVSS 3.1: 8.1 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H; source: CNA: OCD

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.56% as of 2026-11-06; percentile 46.77%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-24

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://github.com/axel-download-accelerator/axel/issues/477 (CNA: OCD; issue-tracking)

- https://github.com/axel-download-accelerator/axel/pull/483/changes/4e76e1a1dd1c4ea11b445e2c45e4ee257c76314e (CNA: OCD; patch)

- https://github.com/axel-download-accelerator/axel/milestone/22 (CNA: OCD; vendor-advisory)

- https://advisories.orangecyberdefense.com/advisories/167 (CNA: OCD; third-party-advisory)

## Provenance

- CNA: OCD: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-118485; retrieved 2026-11-06; source updated 2026-11-06

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-118485; retrieved 2026-11-06; source updated Not reported

Revision: 9ddb9c0b5c5d1755dfa9fa1aa8a62bc9fffdf6168830e6e671712ccb298f00c1

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-118485

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