Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
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.
More detail
Many file operations are intended to take place within a restricted directory. By using special elements such as ".." and "/" separators, attackers can escape outside of the restricted location to access files or directories that are elsewhere on the system. One of the most common special elements is the "../" sequence, which in most modern operating systems is interpreted as the parent directory of the current location. This is referred to as relative path traversal. Path traversal also covers the use of absolute pathnames such as "/usr/local/bin" to access unexpected files. This is referred to as absolute path traversal.
How to prevent it (8 mitigations)
-
Implementation
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.
-
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.
-
Implementation
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
-
Architecture and Design
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].
-
Operation
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].
-
Architecture and Design, Operation
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.
-
Architecture and Design
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.
-
Architecture and Design, Operation
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.
Source: MITRE CWE-22
2,755 results · Clear filters · Feed
-
Medium 4.3
Hot Random Image <= 1.9.2 - Path Traversal to Authenticated (Contributor+) Limited Arbitrary Image Access via path Parameter
The Hot Random Image plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 1.9.2 via the 'path' parameter. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to access arbitrary im…
-
Medium 5.4
Kingdee Cloud Galaxy Private Cloud BBC System File deleteFileAction.jhtml path traversal
A vulnerability has been found in Kingdee Cloud Galaxy Private Cloud BBC System up to 9.0 Patch April 2025 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function BaseServiceFactory.getFileUploadService.deleteFileAction of the file fileUplo…
-
Medium 5.9
WorkstationST EGD Configuration Server Path Traversal Vulnerability
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in GE Vernova WorkstationST on Windows (EGD Configuration Server modules) allows Path Traversal.This issue affects WorkstationST: WorkstationST V07.10.10C and earlier.
-
Medium 5.4
SourceCodester Student Result Management System Image File update_student.php path traversal
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester Student Result Management System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin/core/update_student.php of the component Image File Handler. The ma…
-
Medium 5.4
SourceCodester Student Result Management System Logo File update_system.php unlink path traversal
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Student Result Management System 1.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function unlink of the file update_system.php of the component Logo File Handler. The manipulation of the argume…
-
Medium 6.3
jammy928 CoinExchange_CryptoExchange_Java File Upload Endpoint UploadFileUtil.java uploadLocalImage path traversal
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in jammy928 CoinExchange_CryptoExchange_Java up to 8adf508b996020d3efbeeb2473d7235bd01436fa. This affects the function uploadLocalImage of the file /CoinExchange_CryptoExchange_Java-master/00_framework/cor…
-
Medium 6.3
merikbest ecommerce-spring-reactjs File Upload Endpoint admin path traversal
A vulnerability was found in merikbest ecommerce-spring-reactjs up to 464e610bb11cc2619cf6ce8212ccc2d1fd4277fd. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /api/v1/admin/ of the component File Upload Endpoin…
-
Medium 5.4CVE-2025-4720 Public exploit
SourceCodester Student Result Management System drop_student.php path traversal
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Student Result Management System 1.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file academic/core/drop_student.php. The manipulation of the argument img leads to path traversa…
-
Medium 6.8CVE-2025-43566 EPSS 58%
ColdFusion | Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (CWE-22)
ColdFusion versions 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19 and earlier are affected by an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary file system read. A high-privileged attacker could leverage t…
-
Medium 6.3
Path traversal of collection names during file system lookup
Kirby is an open-source content management system. A vulnerability in versions prior to 3.9.8.3, 3.10.1.2, and 4.7.1 affects all Kirby sites that use the `collection()` helper or `$kirby->collection()` method with a dynamic collection name (such as a collecti…
-
Medium 6.3
Kirby vulnerable to path traversal of snippet names in the `snippet()` helper
Kirby is an open-source content management system. A vulnerability in versions prior to 3.9.8.3, 3.10.1.2, and 4.7.1 affects all Kirby sites that use the `snippet()` helper or `$kirby->snippet()` method with a dynamic snippet name (such as a snippet name that…
-
Medium 5.4
CTCMS Content Management System File Tpl.php del path traversal
A vulnerability was found in CTCMS Content Management System 2.1.2. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function del of the file ctcms\apps\controllers\admin\Tpl.php of the component File Handler. The manipulation of the argument File leads to…
-
Medium 4.3
feng_ha_ha/megagao ssm-erp/production_ssm File FileController.java handleFileDownload path traversal
A vulnerability was found in feng_ha_ha/megagao ssm-erp and production_ssm 1.0. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function handleFileDownload of the file FileController.java of the component File Handler. The manipulat…
-
Medium 4.3
Seeyon Zhiyuan OA Web Application System ZIP File M3CoreController.class download path traversal
A vulnerability was found in Seeyon Zhiyuan OA Web Application System 8.1 SP2. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function Download of the file seeyon\opt\Seeyon\A8\ApacheJetspeed\webapps\seeyon\WEB-INF\lib\seeyon-apps-m3.jar!\com\seeyon\a…
-
Medium 6.3
vector4wang spring-boot-quick quick-img2txt Img2TxtController.java ResponseEntity path traversal
A vulnerability was found in vector4wang spring-boot-quick up to 20250422. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function ResponseEntity of the file /spring-boot-quick-master/quick-img2txt/src/main/java/com/quick/controller/Img2TxtController.j…
-
Medium 5.9
EUCookieLaw <= 2.7.2 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read
The EUCookieLaw plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Read in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.2 via the 'file_get_contents' function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to read the contents of arbitrary files on the ser…
-
Medium 6.5
Cisco SD-WAN Manager Software Arbitrary File Creation Vulnerability
A vulnerability in the application data endpoints of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly Cisco SD-WAN vManage, could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to write arbitrary files to an affected system. This vulnerability is due to improper validation o…
-
Medium 4.3
74CMS index path traversal
A vulnerability was found in 74CMS up to 3.33.0. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function index of the file /index.php/index/download/index. The manipulation of the argument url leads to path traversal. The attack may be launch…
-
Medium 5.4
Misskey Directory Traversal Vulnerability in AiScript via `Mk:api`
Misskey is an open source, federated social media platform. Starting in version 12.31.0 and prior to version 2025.4.1, missing validation in `Mk:api` allows malicious AiScript code to access additional endpoints that it isn't designed to have access to. The m…
-
Medium 5.3
Envolve Plugin <= 1.0 - Unauthenticated Language File Deletion
The Envolve Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion in all versions up to, and including, 1.0 via the 'zetra_deleteLanguageFile' and 'zetra_deleteFontsFile' functions. This is due to the plugin not properly validating a file or it…
-
Medium 5.3
An issue in the restores method (DataBackup.php) of foxcms v2.0.6 allows attackers to execute a directory traversal.
-
Medium 5.3
IBM Concert Software path traversal
IBM Concert Software 1.0.0 through 1.0.5 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. An attacker could send a specially crafted URL request containing "dot dot" sequences (/../) to view arbitrary files on the system.
-
Medium 6.3
Wangshen SecGate 3600 g=route_ispinfo_export_save path traversal
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Wangshen SecGate 3600 2024. Affected is an unknown function of the file /?g=route_ispinfo_export_save. The manipulation of the argument file_name leads to path traversal. It is possible to launch…
-
Medium 6.3CVE-2025-4185 EPSS 13%
Wangshen SecGate 3600 g=obj_area_export_save path traversal
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Wangshen SecGate 3600 2024. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file ?g=obj_area_export_save. The manipulation of the argument file_name leads to path traversal. The attack may…
-
Medium 5.4
xiaowei1118 java_server File Upload API FoodController.java path traversal
A vulnerability was found in xiaowei1118 java_server up to 11a5bac8f4ba1c17e4bc1b27cad6d24868500e3a on Windows and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /src/main/java/com/changyu/foryou/controller/FoodController.java …
-
Medium 6.3
AlanBinu007 Spring-Boot-Advanced-Projects Upload Profile API Endpoint UserProfileController.java uploadUserProfileImage path traversal
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in AlanBinu007 Spring-Boot-Advanced-Projects up to 3.1.3. This affects the function uploadUserProfileImage of the file /Spring-Boot-Advanced-Projects-main/Project-4.SpringBoot-AWS-S3/backend/src/mai…
-
Medium 6.0CVE-2025-46565 Scanner template
Vite's server.fs.deny bypassed with /. for files under project root
Vite is a frontend tooling framework for javascript. Prior to versions 6.3.4, 6.2.7, 6.1.6, 5.4.19, and 4.5.14, the contents of files in the project root that are denied by a file matching pattern can be returned to the browser. Only apps explicitly exposing …
-
Medium 4.3CVE-2025-4078 Scanner template
Wangshen SecGate 3600 g=log_export_file path traversal
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Wangshen SecGate 3600 2400. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file ?g=log_export_file. The manipulation of the argument file_name leads to path traversal. The attack may b…
-
Medium 6.5
Quick Agent V3 and Quick Agent V2 contain an issue with improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('P…
-
Medium 6.5
An issue in the Printer Manager Systm of Entrust Corp Printer Manager D3.18.4-3 and below allows attackers to execute a…
-
Medium 6.5
io.jmix.localfs:jmix-localfs has a Path Traversal in Local File Storage
Jmix is a set of libraries and tools to speed up Spring Boot data-centric application development. In versions 1.0.0 to 1.6.1 and 2.0.0 to 2.3.4, attackers could manipulate the FileRef parameter to access files on the system where the Jmix application is depl…
-
Medium 4.9CVE-2025-3577 EPSS 13%
**UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED** A path traversal vulnerability in the web management interface of the Zyxel AMG1302-T10B …
-
Medium 4.3
opencms V2.3 is vulnerable to Arbitrary file read in src/main/webapp/view/admin/document/dataPage.jsp,
-
Medium 6.5
WordPress Theme File Duplicator Plugin <= 1.3 - Arbitrary File Download vulnerability
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in rockgod100 Theme File Duplicator theme-file-duplicator allows Path Traversal.This issue affects Theme File Duplicator: from n/a through <= 1.3.
-
Medium 5.3
WordPress MyTicket Events plugin <= 1.2.4 - Non-Arbitrary File Read vulnerability
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in WP Asia MyTicket Events myticket-events allows Path Traversal.This issue affects MyTicket Events: from n/a through <= 1.2.4.
-
Medium 4.9
WP Editor <= 1.2.9.1 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Directory Traversal to Arbitrary File Read
The WP Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file read in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.9.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to read arbitrary files on the affected site'…
-
Medium 4.3
misstt123 oasys show image path traversal
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in misstt123 oasys 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is the function image of the file /show. The manipulation leads to path traversal. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed t…
-
Medium 6.5
labsai/eddi Vulnerable to Path Traversal (Zip Slip) in ZIP Import Function
E.D.D.I (Enhanced Dialog Driven Interface) is a middleware to connect and manage LLM API bots. In versions before 5.5.0, an attacker with access to the `/backup/import` API endpoint can write arbitrary files to locations outside the intended extraction direct…
-
Medium 6.3
Information Disclosure of /tmp directory listing
By crafting a malformed file name for an attachment in a multipart message, an attacker can trick Thunderbird into including a directory listing of /tmp when the message is forwarded or edited as a new message. This vulnerability could allow attackers to disc…
-
Medium 5.5
A zip slip vulnerability in the component \service\migrate\MigrateForm.java of JEEWMS v3.7 allows attackers to execute …