CWE-22
Allowed-with-ReviewImproper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Abstraction: Base · Status: Stable
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
14084 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-5VPV-XMCJ-9Q85
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-27 00:54 – Updated: 2023-02-07 21:19Impact
Magento admin users with access to the customer media could execute code on the server.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Packagist",
"name": "openmage/magento-lts"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "19.4.22"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Packagist",
"name": "openmage/magento-lts"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "20.0.0"
},
{
"fixed": "20.0.19"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-41143"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22",
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2023-01-27T00:54:59Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2023-01-27T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "### Impact\nMagento admin users with access to the customer media could execute code on the server.\n\n",
"id": "GHSA-5vpv-xmcj-9q85",
"modified": "2023-02-07T21:19:19Z",
"published": "2023-01-27T00:54:59Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/security/advisories/GHSA-5vpv-xmcj-9q85"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41143"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/commit/45330ff50439984e806992fa22c3f96c4d660f91"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/releases/tag/v19.4.22"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/OpenMage/magento-lts/releases/tag/v20.0.19"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Fix for arbitrary file deletion in customer media allows for remote code execution"
}
GHSA-5VPW-RQV4-GCP5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 04:00 – Updated: 2022-05-14 04:00The saveFile method in MediaController.java in the Telegram Messenger application before 2017-12-08 for Android allows directory traversal via a pathname obtained in a file-transfer request from a remote peer, as demonstrated by writing to tgnet.dat or tgnet.dat.bak.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-17715"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-12-16T19:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The saveFile method in MediaController.java in the Telegram Messenger application before 2017-12-08 for Android allows directory traversal via a pathname obtained in a file-transfer request from a remote peer, as demonstrated by writing to tgnet.dat or tgnet.dat.bak.",
"id": "GHSA-5vpw-rqv4-gcp5",
"modified": "2022-05-14T04:00:36Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T04:00:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-17715"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1470"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-5VQ5-PG3R-9PH3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-06-10 17:22 – Updated: 2024-11-19 18:25Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
Zope is an open-source web application server. This advisory extends the previous advisory at https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36 with additional cases of TAL expression traversal vulnerabilities. Most Python modules are not available for using in TAL expressions that you can add through-the-web, for example in Zope Page Templates. This restriction avoids file system access, for example via the 'os' module. But some of the untrusted modules are available indirectly through Python modules that are available for direct use. By default, you need to have the Manager role to add or edit Zope Page Templates through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit Zope Page Templates through the web are at risk. The problem has been fixed in Zope 5.2.1 and 4.6.1. The workaround is the same as for https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36: A site administrator can restrict adding/editing Zope Page Templates through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing Zope Page Templates through the web should be restricted to trusted users only.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "Zope"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "4.6.1"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "Zope"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "5.0"
},
{
"fixed": "5.2.1"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-12",
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-06-09T21:32:39Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-08T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "## Duplicate Advisory\nThis advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36. This link is maintained to preserve external references.\n\n## Original Description\nZope is an open-source web application server. This advisory extends the previous advisory at https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36 with additional cases of TAL expression traversal vulnerabilities. Most Python modules are not available for using in TAL expressions that you can add through-the-web, for example in Zope Page Templates. This restriction avoids file system access, for example via the \u0027os\u0027 module. But some of the untrusted modules are available indirectly through Python modules that are available for direct use. By default, you need to have the Manager role to add or edit Zope Page Templates through the web. Only sites that allow untrusted users to add/edit Zope Page Templates through the web are at risk. The problem has been fixed in Zope 5.2.1 and 4.6.1. The workaround is the same as for https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36: A site administrator can restrict adding/editing Zope Page Templates through the web using the standard Zope user/role permission mechanisms. Untrusted users should not be assigned the Zope Manager role and adding/editing Zope Page Templates through the web should be restricted to trusted users only.",
"id": "GHSA-5vq5-pg3r-9ph3",
"modified": "2024-11-19T18:25:36Z",
"published": "2021-06-10T17:22:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-5pr9-v234-jw36"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/security/advisories/GHSA-rpcg-f9q6-2mq6"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32674"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope/commit/1d897910139e2c0b11984fc9b78c1da1365bec21"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/zopefoundation/Zope"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://pypi.org/project/Zope"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Duplicate Advisory: Path Traversal in Zope",
"withdrawn": "2024-11-19T18:25:36Z"
}
GHSA-5VW4-99JH-F2HP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 04:38 – Updated: 2025-04-12 12:36Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the Vitamin plugin before 1.1.0 for WordPress allow remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the path parameter to (1) add_headers.php or (2) minify.php.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2012-6651"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2014-07-31T14:55:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the Vitamin plugin before 1.1.0 for WordPress allow remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the path parameter to (1) add_headers.php or (2) minify.php.",
"id": "GHSA-5vw4-99jh-f2hp",
"modified": "2025-04-12T12:36:16Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T04:38:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-6651"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/582232"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://wordpress.org/plugins/vitamin/changelog"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/24/6"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/28/3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/54856"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-5VWR-XG5F-PGG2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:49 – Updated: 2024-04-04 01:13MailEnable Enterprise Premium 10.23 was vulnerable to multiple directory traversal issues, with which authenticated users could add, remove, or potentially read files in arbitrary folders accessible by the IIS user. This could lead to reading other users' credentials including those of SYSADMIN accounts, reading other users' emails, or adding emails or files to other users' accounts.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-12925"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-07-08T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "MailEnable Enterprise Premium 10.23 was vulnerable to multiple directory traversal issues, with which authenticated users could add, remove, or potentially read files in arbitrary folders accessible by the IIS user. This could lead to reading other users\u0027 credentials including those of SYSADMIN accounts, reading other users\u0027 emails, or adding emails or files to other users\u0027 accounts.",
"id": "GHSA-5vwr-xg5f-pgg2",
"modified": "2024-04-04T01:13:15Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:49:48Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-12925"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.nccgroup.trust/uk/our-research/technical-advisory-multiple-vulnerabilities-in-mailenable"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.mailenable.com/Premium-ReleaseNotes.txt"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-5VXH-C842-V758
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 04:47 – Updated: 2022-05-17 04:47Multiple absolute path traversal vulnerabilities in PaperThin CommonSpot before 7.0.2 and 8.x before 8.0.3 allow remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via a full pathname in a parameter.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2014-2863"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2014-04-15T23:13:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Multiple absolute path traversal vulnerabilities in PaperThin CommonSpot before 7.0.2 and 8.x before 8.0.3 allow remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via a full pathname in a parameter.",
"id": "GHSA-5vxh-c842-v758",
"modified": "2022-05-17T04:47:01Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T04:47:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-2863"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/437385"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-5VXP-83XG-5C9F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-15 09:31 – Updated: 2026-05-15 09:31The Quick Playground plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in versions up to and including 1.3.3. This is due to insufficient path validation in the qckply_zip_theme() function, which appends a user-controlled 'stylesheet' parameter directly to the theme root directory path without sanitizing directory traversal sequences. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to trigger the creation of a ZIP archive containing arbitrary files from the server's filesystem — including wp-config.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-6403"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-05-15T09:16:16Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The Quick Playground plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in versions up to and including 1.3.3. This is due to insufficient path validation in the qckply_zip_theme() function, which appends a user-controlled \u0027stylesheet\u0027 parameter directly to the theme root directory path without sanitizing directory traversal sequences. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to trigger the creation of a ZIP archive containing arbitrary files from the server\u0027s filesystem \u2014 including wp-config.",
"id": "GHSA-5vxp-83xg-5c9f",
"modified": "2026-05-15T09:31:32Z",
"published": "2026-05-15T09:31:32Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6403"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/tags/1.3.1/api.php#L62"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/tags/1.3.1/api.php#L631"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/tags/1.3.1/utility.php#L162"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/tags/1.3.1/utility.php#L248"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/trunk/api.php#L62"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/trunk/api.php#L631"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/trunk/utility.php#L162"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/quick-playground/trunk/utility.php#L248"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=\u0026sfph_mail=\u0026reponame=\u0026old=3514238%40quick-playground\u0026new=3514238%40quick-playground\u0026sfp_email=\u0026sfph_mail="
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=\u0026sfph_mail=\u0026reponame=\u0026old=3523317%40quick-playground\u0026new=3523317%40quick-playground\u0026sfp_email=\u0026sfph_mail="
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a39dccb6-b635-44af-b0e0-c3010b719773?source=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-5W4J-QP2J-2P4H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-17 09:31 – Updated: 2024-05-17 09:31Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in supsystic.Com Popup by Supsystic allows Relative Path Traversal.This issue affects Popup by Supsystic: from n/a through 1.10.19.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-46197"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-17T09:15:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (\u0027Path Traversal\u0027) vulnerability in supsystic.Com Popup by Supsystic allows Relative Path Traversal.This issue affects Popup by Supsystic: from n/a through 1.10.19.",
"id": "GHSA-5w4j-qp2j-2p4h",
"modified": "2024-05-17T09:31:01Z",
"published": "2024-05-17T09:31:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46197"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/popup-by-supsystic/wordpress-popup-by-supsystic-plugin-1-10-19-unauthenticated-subscriber-email-addresses-disclosure?_s_id=cve"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-5W4R-4GWH-5F24
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-21 03:30 – Updated: 2024-10-22 21:30An issue was discovered in Sangoma Asterisk through 18.20.0, 19.x and 20.x through 20.5.0, and 21.x through 21.0.0, and Certified Asterisk through 18.9-cert5. In manager.c, the functions action_getconfig() and action_getconfigJson() do not process the input file path, resulting in a path traversal vulnerability. In versions without the restrictedFile() function, no processing is done on the input path. In versions with the restrictedFile() function, path traversal is not processed.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-49215"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-21T01:15:02Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An issue was discovered in Sangoma Asterisk through 18.20.0, 19.x and 20.x through 20.5.0, and 21.x through 21.0.0, and Certified Asterisk through 18.9-cert5. In manager.c, the functions action_getconfig() and action_getconfigJson() do not process the input file path, resulting in a path traversal vulnerability. In versions without the restrictedFile() function, no processing is done on the input path. In versions with the restrictedFile() function, path traversal is not processed.",
"id": "GHSA-5w4r-4gwh-5f24",
"modified": "2024-10-22T21:30:37Z",
"published": "2024-10-21T03:30:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49215"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gist.github.com/hyp164D1/5d68b9b7a504f1416272a825ce65966a"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/asterisk/asterisk/blob/20.5.0/main/manager.c#L3755"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-5W62-43C9-WR5M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 03:00 – Updated: 2022-05-14 03:00JFrog JFrog Artifactory version Prior to version 6.0.3, since version 4.0.0 contains a Directory Traversal vulnerability in The "Import Repository from Zip" feature, available through the Admin menu -> Import & Export -> Repositories, triggers a vulnerable UI REST endpoint (/ui/artifactimport/upload) that can result in Directory traversal / file overwrite and remote code execution. This attack appear to be exploitable via An attacker with Admin privileges may use the aforementioned UI endpoint and exploit the publicly known "Zip Slip" vulnerability, to add/overwrite files outside the target directory. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 6.0.3.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-1000623"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-07-09T20:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "JFrog JFrog Artifactory version Prior to version 6.0.3, since version 4.0.0 contains a Directory Traversal vulnerability in The \"Import Repository from Zip\" feature, available through the Admin menu -\u003e Import \u0026 Export -\u003e Repositories, triggers a vulnerable UI REST endpoint (/ui/artifactimport/upload) that can result in Directory traversal / file overwrite and remote code execution. This attack appear to be exploitable via An attacker with Admin privileges may use the aforementioned UI endpoint and exploit the publicly known \"Zip Slip\" vulnerability, to add/overwrite files outside the target directory. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 6.0.3.",
"id": "GHSA-5w62-43c9-wr5m",
"modified": "2022-05-14T03:00:07Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T03:00:07Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1000623"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.jfrog.com/confluence/display/RTF/Release+Notes#ReleaseNotes-Artifactory6.0.3"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
Mitigation MIT-5.1
Strategy: Input Validation
- Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
- When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue."
- Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
- When validating filenames, use stringent allowlists that limit the character set to be used. If feasible, only allow a single "." character in the filename to avoid weaknesses such as CWE-23, and exclude directory separators such as "/" to avoid CWE-36. Use a list of allowable file extensions, which will help to avoid CWE-434.
- Do not rely exclusively on a filtering mechanism that removes potentially dangerous characters. This is equivalent to a denylist, which may be incomplete (CWE-184). For example, filtering "/" is insufficient protection if the filesystem also supports the use of "\" as a directory separator. Another possible error could occur when the filtering is applied in a way that still produces dangerous data (CWE-182). For example, if "../" sequences are removed from the ".../...//" string in a sequential fashion, two instances of "../" would be removed from the original string, but the remaining characters would still form the "../" string.
Mitigation MIT-15
For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
Mitigation MIT-20.1
Strategy: Input Validation
- Inputs should be decoded and canonicalized to the application's current internal representation before being validated (CWE-180). Make sure that the application does not decode the same input twice (CWE-174). Such errors could be used to bypass allowlist validation schemes by introducing dangerous inputs after they have been checked.
- Use a built-in path canonicalization function (such as realpath() in C) that produces the canonical version of the pathname, which effectively removes ".." sequences and symbolic links (CWE-23, CWE-59). This includes:
- realpath() in C
- getCanonicalPath() in Java
- GetFullPath() in ASP.NET
- realpath() or abs_path() in Perl
- realpath() in PHP
Mitigation MIT-4
Strategy: Libraries or Frameworks
Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid [REF-1482].
Mitigation MIT-29
Strategy: Firewall
Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth [REF-1481].
Mitigation MIT-17
Strategy: Environment Hardening
Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks [REF-76]. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
Mitigation MIT-21.1
Strategy: Enforcement by Conversion
- When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs.
- For example, ID 1 could map to "inbox.txt" and ID 2 could map to "profile.txt". Features such as the ESAPI AccessReferenceMap [REF-185] provide this capability.
Mitigation MIT-22
Strategy: Sandbox or Jail
- Run the code in a "jail" or similar sandbox environment that enforces strict boundaries between the process and the operating system. This may effectively restrict which files can be accessed in a particular directory or which commands can be executed by the software.
- OS-level examples include the Unix chroot jail, AppArmor, and SELinux. In general, managed code may provide some protection. For example, java.io.FilePermission in the Java SecurityManager allows the software to specify restrictions on file operations.
- This may not be a feasible solution, and it only limits the impact to the operating system; the rest of the application may still be subject to compromise.
- Be careful to avoid CWE-243 and other weaknesses related to jails.
Mitigation MIT-34
Strategy: Attack Surface Reduction
- Store library, include, and utility files outside of the web document root, if possible. Otherwise, store them in a separate directory and use the web server's access control capabilities to prevent attackers from directly requesting them. One common practice is to define a fixed constant in each calling program, then check for the existence of the constant in the library/include file; if the constant does not exist, then the file was directly requested, and it can exit immediately.
- This significantly reduces the chance of an attacker being able to bypass any protection mechanisms that are in the base program but not in the include files. It will also reduce the attack surface.
Mitigation MIT-39
- Ensure that error messages only contain minimal details that are useful to the intended audience and no one else. The messages need to strike the balance between being too cryptic (which can confuse users) or being too detailed (which may reveal more than intended). The messages should not reveal the methods that were used to determine the error. Attackers can use detailed information to refine or optimize their original attack, thereby increasing their chances of success.
- If errors must be captured in some detail, record them in log messages, but consider what could occur if the log messages can be viewed by attackers. Highly sensitive information such as passwords should never be saved to log files.
- Avoid inconsistent messaging that might accidentally tip off an attacker about internal state, such as whether a user account exists or not.
- In the context of path traversal, error messages which disclose path information can help attackers craft the appropriate attack strings to move through the file system hierarchy.
Mitigation MIT-16
Strategy: Environment Hardening
When using PHP, configure the application so that it does not use register_globals. During implementation, develop the application so that it does not rely on this feature, but be wary of implementing a register_globals emulation that is subject to weaknesses such as CWE-95, CWE-621, and similar issues.
CAPEC-126: Path Traversal
An adversary uses path manipulation methods to exploit insufficient input validation of a target to obtain access to data that should be not be retrievable by ordinary well-formed requests. A typical variety of this attack involves specifying a path to a desired file together with dot-dot-slash characters, resulting in the file access API or function traversing out of the intended directory structure and into the root file system. By replacing or modifying the expected path information the access function or API retrieves the file desired by the attacker. These attacks either involve the attacker providing a complete path to a targeted file or using control characters (e.g. path separators (/ or \) and/or dots (.)) to reach desired directories or files.
CAPEC-64: Using Slashes and URL Encoding Combined to Bypass Validation Logic
This attack targets the encoding of the URL combined with the encoding of the slash characters. An attacker can take advantage of the multiple ways of encoding a URL and abuse the interpretation of the URL. A URL may contain special character that need special syntax handling in order to be interpreted. Special characters are represented using a percentage character followed by two digits representing the octet code of the original character (%HEX-CODE). For instance US-ASCII space character would be represented with %20. This is often referred as escaped ending or percent-encoding. Since the server decodes the URL from the requests, it may restrict the access to some URL paths by validating and filtering out the URL requests it received. An attacker will try to craft an URL with a sequence of special characters which once interpreted by the server will be equivalent to a forbidden URL. It can be difficult to protect against this attack since the URL can contain other format of encoding such as UTF-8 encoding, Unicode-encoding, etc.
CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls
An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.
CAPEC-78: Using Escaped Slashes in Alternate Encoding
This attack targets the use of the backslash in alternate encoding. An adversary can provide a backslash as a leading character and causes a parser to believe that the next character is special. This is called an escape. By using that trick, the adversary tries to exploit alternate ways to encode the same character which leads to filter problems and opens avenues to attack.
CAPEC-79: Using Slashes in Alternate Encoding
This attack targets the encoding of the Slash characters. An adversary would try to exploit common filtering problems related to the use of the slashes characters to gain access to resources on the target host. Directory-driven systems, such as file systems and databases, typically use the slash character to indicate traversal between directories or other container components. For murky historical reasons, PCs (and, as a result, Microsoft OSs) choose to use a backslash, whereas the UNIX world typically makes use of the forward slash. The schizophrenic result is that many MS-based systems are required to understand both forms of the slash. This gives the adversary many opportunities to discover and abuse a number of common filtering problems. The goal of this pattern is to discover server software that only applies filters to one version, but not the other.