Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-22

Allowed-with-Review

Improper 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.

13124 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-RHVM-228W-2X4C

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 01:32 – Updated: 2022-05-14 01:32
VLAI
Details

tecrail Responsive FileManager 9.13.4 allows remote attackers to write to an arbitrary file as a consequence of a paths[0] path traversal mitigation bypass, through the create_file action in execute.php.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2018-20793"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2019-02-25T06:29:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "tecrail Responsive FileManager 9.13.4 allows remote attackers to write to an arbitrary file as a consequence of a paths[0] path traversal mitigation bypass, through the create_file action in execute.php.",
  "id": "GHSA-rhvm-228w-2x4c",
  "modified": "2022-05-14T01:32:35Z",
  "published": "2022-05-14T01:32:35Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20793"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45987"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-RHVV-H8RG-3GXQ

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-04-05 06:30 – Updated: 2024-04-05 06:30
VLAI
Details

Directory Traversal vulnerability in zly2006 Reden before v.0.2.514 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the DEBUG_RTC_REQUEST_SYNC_DATA in KeyCallbacks.kt.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-29672"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-04-05T06:15:10Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Directory Traversal vulnerability in zly2006 Reden before v.0.2.514 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the DEBUG_RTC_REQUEST_SYNC_DATA in KeyCallbacks.kt.",
  "id": "GHSA-rhvv-h8rg-3gxq",
  "modified": "2024-04-05T06:30:46Z",
  "published": "2024-04-05T06:30:46Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-29672"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/zly2006/reden-is-what-we-made/commit/44c5320f0a1ccaa764dd91df6a12e747f81fe63a"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://gist.github.com/apple502j/193358682885fe1a6708309ce934e4ed"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-RHW6-MFVP-RWR4

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-01-21 00:00 – Updated: 2022-01-28 00:03
VLAI
Details

A directory traversal vulnerability in Trend Micro Deep Security and Cloud One - Workload Security Agent for Linux version 20 and below could allow an attacker to read arbitrary files from the file system. Please note: an attacker must first obtain compromised access to the target Deep Security Manager (DSM) or the target agent must be not yet activated or configured in order to exploit this vulnerability.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2022-23119"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2022-01-20T19:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "A directory traversal vulnerability in Trend Micro Deep Security and Cloud One - Workload Security Agent for Linux version 20 and below could allow an attacker to read arbitrary files from the file system. Please note: an attacker must first obtain compromised access to the target Deep Security Manager (DSM) or the target agent must be not yet activated or configured in order to exploit this vulnerability.",
  "id": "GHSA-rhw6-mfvp-rwr4",
  "modified": "2022-01-28T00:03:57Z",
  "published": "2022-01-21T00:00:40Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23119"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://success.trendmicro.com/solution/000290104"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.modzero.com/advisories/MZ-21-02-Trendmicro.txt"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-RJ42-87J6-HQ79

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 22:00 – Updated: 2024-04-04 03:06
VLAI
Details

In NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4, path traversal can occur in RestoreTask.java (from the package ghidra.app.plugin.core.archive) via an archive with an executable file that has an initial ../ in its filename. This allows attackers to overwrite arbitrary files in scenarios where an intermediate analysis result is archived for sharing with other persons. To achieve arbitrary code execution, one approach is to overwrite some critical Ghidra modules, e.g., the decompile module.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2019-13623"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2019-07-17T03:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "In NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4, path traversal can occur in RestoreTask.java (from the package ghidra.app.plugin.core.archive) via an archive with an executable file that has an initial ../ in its filename. This allows attackers to overwrite arbitrary files in scenarios where an intermediate analysis result is archived for sharing with other persons. To achieve arbitrary code execution, one approach is to overwrite some critical Ghidra modules, e.g., the decompile module.",
  "id": "GHSA-rj42-87j6-hq79",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T03:06:51Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T22:00:14Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-13623"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra/issues/789"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://ghidra-sre.org/releaseNotes_9.1_final.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://blog.fxiao.me/ghidra"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154015/Ghidra-Linux-9.0.4-Arbitrary-Code-Execution.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-RJ4J-2JPH-GG43

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-24 23:31 – Updated: 2025-11-27 08:40
VLAI
Summary
LF Edge eKuiper is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Read/Write via unsanitized names and zip extraction
Details

Summary

Multiple path traversal and unsafe path handling vulnerabilities were discovered in eKuiper prior to the fixes implemented in PR lf-edge/ekuiper#3911. The issues allow attacker-controlled input (rule names, schema versions, plugin names, uploaded file names, and ZIP entries) to influence file system paths used by the application. In vulnerable deployments, this can permit files to be created, overwritten, or extracted outside the intended directories, potentially enabling disclosure of sensitive files, tampering with configuration or plugin binaries, denial of service, or other host compromise scenarios.

Several components used unvalidated user input when constructing filesystem paths or when extracting archives. In each case, input was accepted and used directly in path operations (join, create, delete, extract) without sufficient sanitization or canonicalization, allowing the input to include path separators, .. segments, or absolute paths.

Impact

Arbitrary file overwrite / deletion: attackers could overwrite or delete files outside the intended directory, which can corrupt application data, remove logs, or disable services.

Resources

  • https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/commit/58362b089c76f08c400fe0dbb3667e6e871eaffd
  • https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/pull/3911
Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/v2"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "2.3.0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22",
      "CWE-23"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2025-11-24T23:31:39Z",
    "nvd_published_at": null,
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "### Summary\nMultiple path traversal and unsafe path handling vulnerabilities were discovered in eKuiper prior to the fixes implemented in PR [lf-edge/ekuiper#3911](https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/pull/3911). The issues allow attacker-controlled input (rule names, schema versions, plugin names, uploaded file names, and ZIP entries) to influence file system paths used by the application. In vulnerable deployments, this can permit files to be created, overwritten, or extracted outside the intended directories, potentially enabling disclosure of sensitive files, tampering with configuration or plugin binaries, denial of service, or other host compromise scenarios.\n\nSeveral components used unvalidated user input when constructing filesystem paths or when extracting archives. In each case, input was accepted and used directly in path operations (join, create, delete, extract) without sufficient sanitization or canonicalization, allowing the input to include path separators, `..` segments, or absolute paths.\n\n### Impact\n**Arbitrary file overwrite / deletion:** attackers could overwrite or delete files outside the intended directory, which can corrupt application data, remove logs, or disable services.\n\n### Resources\n- https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/commit/58362b089c76f08c400fe0dbb3667e6e871eaffd\n- https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/pull/3911",
  "id": "GHSA-rj4j-2jph-gg43",
  "modified": "2025-11-27T08:40:42Z",
  "published": "2025-11-24T23:31:39Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/security/advisories/GHSA-rj4j-2jph-gg43"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/pull/3911"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper/commit/58362b089c76f08c400fe0dbb3667e6e871eaffd"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/lf-edge/ekuiper"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "LF Edge eKuiper is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Read/Write via unsanitized names and zip extraction"
}

GHSA-RJ4J-FGV3-VXHV

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 00:37 – Updated: 2022-05-17 00:37
VLAI
Details

Directory traversal vulnerability in data/modules/blog/module_pages_site.php in Pluck 4.6.1 allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the post parameter.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2008-6842"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2009-07-02T10:30:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "Directory traversal vulnerability in data/modules/blog/module_pages_site.php in Pluck 4.6.1 allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the post parameter.",
  "id": "GHSA-rj4j-fgv3-vxhv",
  "modified": "2022-05-17T00:37:51Z",
  "published": "2022-05-17T00:37:51Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-6842"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/49378"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/8271"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/34415"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34207"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-RJ56-VP9H-3FRJ

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-29 18:31 – Updated: 2026-05-29 18:31
VLAI
Details

Navigate CMS 2.8.5 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows authenticated users to download arbitrary files by injecting directory traversal sequences in the id parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to navigate_download.php with path traversal payloads ../../../cfg/globals.php to access sensitive configuration files and system files outside the intended directory.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2018-25393"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-05-29T16:16:18Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Navigate CMS 2.8.5 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows authenticated users to download arbitrary files by injecting directory traversal sequences in the id parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to navigate_download.php with path traversal payloads ../../../cfg/globals.php to access sensitive configuration files and system files outside the intended directory.",
  "id": "GHSA-rj56-vp9h-3frj",
  "modified": "2026-05-29T18:31:31Z",
  "published": "2026-05-29T18:31:31Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-25393"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45615"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.navigatecms.com"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/navigate-cms-path-traversal-via-navigate-download-php"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://master.dl.sourceforge.net/project/navigatecms/releases/navigate-2.8.5r1355.zip"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-RJ62-3VMP-2F6J

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-11-22 03:30 – Updated: 2023-11-22 03:30
VLAI
Details

It was discovered that Kibana was not validating a user supplied path, which would load .pbf files. Because of this, a malicious user could arbitrarily traverse the Kibana host to load internal files ending in the .pbf extension.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-22151"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-11-22T01:15:07Z",
    "severity": "LOW"
  },
  "details": "It was discovered that Kibana was not validating a user supplied path, which would load .pbf files. Because of this, a malicious user could arbitrarily traverse the Kibana host to load internal files ending in the .pbf extension.",
  "id": "GHSA-rj62-3vmp-2f6j",
  "modified": "2023-11-22T03:30:19Z",
  "published": "2023-11-22T03:30:19Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22151"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-stack-7-14-1-security-update/283077"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.elastic.co/community/security"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-RJ98-CRF4-G69W

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-03-07 21:30 – Updated: 2025-02-13 19:08
VLAI
Summary
pgAdmin 4 vulnerable to Unsafe Deserialization and Remote Code Execution by an Authenticated user
Details

pgAdmin prior to version 8.4 is affected by a path-traversal vulnerability while deserializing users’ sessions in the session handling code. If the server is running on Windows, an unauthenticated attacker can load and deserialize remote pickle objects and gain code execution. If the server is running on POSIX/Linux, an authenticated attacker can upload pickle objects, deserialize them and gain code execution.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "PyPI",
        "name": "pgAdmin4"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "8.4"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-2044"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22",
      "CWE-31",
      "CWE-502"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2024-03-07T22:39:27Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-03-07T21:15:08Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "pgAdmin prior to version 8.4 is affected by a path-traversal vulnerability while deserializing users\u2019 sessions in the session handling code. If the server is running on Windows, an unauthenticated attacker can load and deserialize remote pickle objects and gain code execution. If the server is running on POSIX/Linux, an authenticated attacker can upload pickle objects, deserialize them and gain code execution.",
  "id": "GHSA-rj98-crf4-g69w",
  "modified": "2025-02-13T19:08:34Z",
  "published": "2024-03-07T21:30:22Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-2044"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pgadmin-org/pgadmin4/issues/7258"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pgadmin-org/pgadmin4/commit/4e49d752fba72953acceeb7f4aa2e6e32d25853d"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/pgadmin-org/pgadmin4"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LUYN2JXKKHFSVTASH344TBRGWDH64XQV"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.shielder.com/advisories/pgadmin-path-traversal_leads_to_unsafe_deserialization_and_rce"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "pgAdmin 4 vulnerable to Unsafe Deserialization and Remote Code Execution by an Authenticated user"
}

GHSA-RJC4-8FX3-G78F

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:55 – Updated: 2025-03-24 18:30
VLAI
Details

The sina-extension-for-elementor plugin before 2.2.1 for WordPress has local file inclusion.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2019-15839"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2019-08-30T17:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "The sina-extension-for-elementor plugin before 2.2.1 for WordPress has local file inclusion.",
  "id": "GHSA-rjc4-8fx3-g78f",
  "modified": "2025-03-24T18:30:32Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T16:55:18Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-15839"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wordpress.org/plugins/sina-extension-for-elementor/#developers"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9368"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.pluginvulnerabilities.com/2019/06/18/our-proactive-monitoring-caught-a-local-file-inclusion-lfi-vulnerability-being-added-in-to-sina-extension-for-elementor"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

Mitigation MIT-5.1
Implementation

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
Architecture and Design

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
Implementation

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
Architecture and Design

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
Operation

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
Architecture and Design Operation

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
Architecture and Design

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
Architecture and Design Operation

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
Architecture and Design Operation

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
Implementation
  • 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
Operation Implementation

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.