---
id: "CVE-2019-16278"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2019-16278"]
title: "nazgul nostromo nhttpd: Directory Traversal in the function http_verify in nostromo nhttpd through 1.9.6 allows an attacker to achieve\u2026"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.8
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "other"
products: [{"name": "Nostromo nhttpd", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "nazgul nostromo nhttpd", "fixed": ["1.9.7"], "affected": "< 1.9.7", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "nostromo", "other", "self-hosted", "web-server"]
not_affected_if: ["chrooted-deployment", "other-web-server"]
published_at: "2019-10-14T17:15:09+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2019-16278", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16278", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"}]
---

# nazgul nostromo nhttpd: Directory Traversal in the function http_verify in nostromo nhttpd through 1.9.6 allows an attacker to achieve…

Nostromo nhttpd is a small web server, and a directory traversal flaw in its http_verify() function lets remote requests reach files outside the web root. The description says this allows remote code execution on a non-chrooted server, and CISA lists it as actively exploited.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Nostromo nhttpd affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:nazgul nostromo nhttpd affected < 1.9.7 fixed 1.9.7

## How to check

Identify whether the nhttpd binary is running (for example ps aux | grep nhttpd) and whether it runs without chroot.

## Fix

Apply the vendor mitigation or stop using Nostromo nhttpd; the sources do not name a fixed version.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2019-16278
- 2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16278

## From the sources

Nostromo nhttpd contains a directory traversal vulnerability in the http_verify() function in a non-chrooted nhttpd server allowing for remote code execution.

CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_