Path traversal in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent (CVE-2026-81849) | HOL Guard CVE

Unknown severity · Source severity not reportedCVE-2026-81849

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

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-81849 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in Path traversal in the aws:downloadContent plugin in amazon-ssm-agent. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps amazon/amazon-ssm-agent (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Aug 28, 2026Updated Aug 28, 2026Source checked Aug 28, 2026First seen by HOL Aug 28, 2026Material review Aug 28, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps amazon/amazon-ssm-agent (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
amazon/amazon-ssm-agentgeneric	>=0 <3.3.4515.0	3.3.4515.0

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for amazon/amazon-ssm-agent.
Review the reported fix. Update amazon/amazon-ssm-agent to 3.3.4515.0 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Aug 28, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Aug 28, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Aug 28, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source 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.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.