Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
VLC for Android before 3.7.0 has a Remote Access Server file download flaw. If the server is enabled and an attacker can authenticate and reach it over the network, they may read files outside the configured download folder. Android sandboxing limits likely data exposure, but affected mobile endpoints should be updated.
Executive priority
Treat this as a medium-priority mobile endpoint issue. It is not presented as actively exploited, and exploitation needs authentication, but organizations using VLC Remote Access Server should patch promptly because the flaw can expose files outside the intended download directory.
Technical view
The authenticated GET /download route concatenates the file parameter under the configured download directory without canonicalization or containment checks. This creates path traversal risk. The CVSS 3.1 score is 4.9, with network attack vector, high complexity, low privileges required, and limited confidentiality and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to VLC for Android versions before 3.7.0 where the Remote Access Server is enabled, reachable over a network, and accessible to an authenticated attacker. Android application sandbox and storage controls constrain likely file access.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires authentication and network reachability to VLC for Android Remote Access Server, making broad opportunistic exploitation less likely than targeted local-network or misconfigured-service scenarios.
Researcher notes
Evidence points to a path traversal in authenticated Remote Access Server download routing. Analysis should focus on version verification, server enablement, network reachability, and Android storage boundaries. Do not assume access beyond the VLC app sandbox unless device configuration evidence supports it.
Mitigation direction
- Update VLC for Android to version 3.7.0 or later.
- Disable the Remote Access Server where it is not required.
- Restrict network reachability to trusted networks only.
- Check VideoLAN and VulnCheck guidance for any additional vendor direction.
- Use MDM or endpoint inventory to find outdated VLC installations.
Validation and detection
- Identify Android devices running VLC for Android before 3.7.0.
- Confirm whether VLC Remote Access Server is enabled on managed devices.
- Verify updated devices report VLC for Android 3.7.0 or later.
- Review network controls for unnecessary access to the Remote Access Server.
- Document any devices that cannot be updated and apply compensating controls.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-73: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-26228 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.9 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:L1.82.7VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
2.3LowVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.9MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:L
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-android.htmlCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- https://github.com/videolan/vlc-android/releases/tag/3.7.0CVE reference, VulnCheck · patch
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/vlc-for-android-remote-access-path-traversalCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
External Control of File Name or Path
External Control of File Name or Path represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.