Weakness (CWE)
CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path
The product allows user input to control or influence paths or file names that are used in filesystem operations.
How to prevent it (8 mitigations)
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Architecture and Design
When the set of filenames is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames, 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 provide this capability.
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Architecture and Design, Operation
Run your code in a "jail" or similar sandbox environment that enforces strict boundaries between the process and the operating system. This may effectively restrict all access to files within a particular directory.
Examples include the Unix chroot jail and AppArmor. In general, managed code may provide some protection.
This may not be a feasible solution, and it only limits the impact to the operating system; the rest of your application may still be subject to compromise.
Be careful to avoid CWE-243 and other weaknesses related to jails.
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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.
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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.
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Implementation
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).
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Installation, Operation
Use OS-level permissions and run as a low-privileged user to limit the scope of any successful attack.
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Operation, Implementation
If you are using PHP, configure your application so that it does not use register_globals. During implementation, develop your 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.
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Testing
Use tools and techniques that require manual (human) analysis, such as penetration testing, threat modeling, and interactive tools that allow the tester to record and modify an active session. These may be more effective than strictly automated techniques. This is especially the case with weaknesses that are related to design and business rules.
Source: MITRE CWE-73
131 results · Clear filters · Feed
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Critical 9.9
Incus has arbitrary file read+write on host via templates/ symlink in malicious image
Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 7.2.0, a specially crafted image or instance backup can be used to read or create/write arbitrary files on the host; possibly leading to arbitrary command execution. Version 7.2.0 patch…
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Critical 9.9
Incus has an arbitrary file write on host via `exec-output` symlink in crafted image
Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 7.2.0, the `record-output` parameter of the `/instances/$name/exec` endpoint stores the output of the command in the `exec-output` directory of the instance. If `exec-output` is a symli…
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Critical 9.9
Incus has an arbitrary file read+write on host via rootfs/ symlink in malicious image
Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 7.2.0, a specially crafted image can be used to read or create/write arbitrary files on the host; possibly leading to arbitrary command execution. Version 7.2.0 fixes the issue.
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Critical 9.3
Datiphy Data Management Center - External Control of File Name or Path
External Control of File Name or Path in the upload API endpoint of Datiphy Data Management Center from v8.3.0 through v8.5.1 allows a remote attacker to write files to arbitrary locations outside the intended upload directory via relative or absolute path se…
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Critical 9.1
Vulnerabilities in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS
IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a remote attacker to overwrite arbitrary files due to improper neutralization of special elements in input.
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Critical 9.1
Wazuh : peer-controlled metadata key in process_files_from_worker non-merged branch allows arbitrary file write under WAZUH_PATH on Wazuh manager
Wazuh is a free and open source platform used for threat prevention, detection, and response. From 4.3.0 until 4.14.6 and 5.0.0-beta3, the non-merged branch of process_files_from_worker() in framework/wazuh/core/cluster/master.py trusts a peer-controlled file…
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Critical 10.0
Cisco Crosswork Security Hardening Release: August 2026
As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to proactive security and product quality, the Cisco Crosswork engineering team has conducted a comprehensive internal security review. This review resulted in a software hardening release that addresses multiple internal…
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Critical 9.1
Wazuh: cluster peer can read arbitrary master files and forge offline REST API administrator tokens via DAPI tmp_file path injection in Wazuh manager
Wazuh is a free and open source platform used for threat prevention, detection, and response. From 4.0.0 until 4.14.6 and 5.0.0-beta3, DistributedAPI.send_tmp_file() in framework/wazuh/core/cluster/dapi/dapi.py joins an attacker-controlled tmp_file value to W…
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Critical 9.8
Ground Station: Unauthenticated arbitrary file write (path traversal) in save-waterfall-snapshot leads to remote code execution
Ground Station is a browser-based suite for satellite tracking, SDR reception, hardware control, and telemetry decoding. Prior to version 0.4.13, the unauthenticated save-waterfall-snapshot Socket.IO command passes attacker-controlled snapshotName input from …
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Critical 9.3
CodeWhale before 0.8.64 Argument Injection via git_show
CodeWhale versions >= 0.3.27 and < 0.8.64 (published as deepseek-tui >= 0.3.27 and < 0.8.41 on npm and 0.3.27 through 0.8.41 on crates.io, and as codewhale / codewhale-tui >= 0.8.41 and < 0.8.64) contain an argument injection vulnerability in the git_show too…
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Critical 9.8
IBM Db2 Mirror for i is affected by multiple vulnerabilities
IBM Db2 Mirror for i 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code due to external control of file name or path.
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Critical 9.9
OpenWrt luci-app-lxc ACL Inconsistency Authentication Bypass
luci-app-lxc contains an ACL inconsistency vulnerability that allows low-privileged authenticated LuCI users to access backend container management routes without proper authorization checks. Attackers can exploit path traversal via `/.%2E` in the `lxc_name` …
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Critical 9.9
luci-app-openvpn Path Traversal RCE via instance_name2
luci-app-openvpn fails to properly validate the instance_name2 parameter during file upload, allowing authenticated users to perform path traversal and write arbitrary files outside the intended directory. Attackers can upload malicious payloads to gain persi…
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Critical 9.8
IBM Documentation Offline is vulnerable to information disclosure, session forgery and remote code execution
IBM Documentation Offline 1.0.0 through 1.4.1 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code due to improper control of file paths.
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Critical 9.8
WhatsUp Gold versions prior to 26.0.2 contain an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in an internal report scheduling service.
In WhatsUp Gold versions released before 2026.0.2, an unauthenticated remote attacker with network access to the affected service can execute arbitrary code in the context of the IIS application service account.
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Critical 9.1
Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for WooCommerce < 1.1.8 - Unauthenticated File Deletion via Nonce Oracle
The Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 1.1.8 does not prevent unauthenticated users from obtaining a valid nonce that is the only control gating its file-deletion routine, allowing anonymous attackers to delete files st…
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Critical 9.8CVE-2026-52680 Public exploit
Apache Kyuubi: REST batch multipart upload path traversal allows controlled file write
Apache Kyuubi REST batch multipart upload handling uses the client-supplied multipart filename when creating a temporary uploaded resource. A remote attacker who can access the REST batch upload endpoint can provide path traversal sequences in the filename an…
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Critical 10.0
Flyto2 Core: Arbitrary file write via image.download (and other file-writing modules)
Flyto2 Core is an execution kernel for automation and AI-agent workflows. Prior to 2.26.6, image.download and related file-writing modules use caller-controlled output_dir instead of validate_path_with_env_config and its FLYTO_SANDBOX_DIR confinement, allowin…
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Critical 9.4
OpenDJ unauthenticated SSRF, local file read and unbounded-read DoS in the DSMLv2 gateway
The DSMLv2 SOAP gateway (opendj-dsml-servlet) in OpenIdentityPlatform OpenDJ through 5.1.1 dereferences attacker-supplied xsd:anyURI values server-side without a scheme allowlist, egress filtering, or a size cap, and is reachable without authentication by def…
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Critical 10.0
Metabase: Remote Code Execution via Snowflake JDBC Driver Arbitrary File Write
Metabase is an open-source business intelligence and embedded analytics tool. From 1.54.0 until 1.54.24, 1.55.24, 1.56.25, 1.57.19, 1.58.14, 1.59.10, and 1.60.4, a Metabase user with permission to add or edit a database connection can achieve remote code exec…
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Critical 9.0
In Eclipse BaSyx Java Server SDK versions 2.0.0-milestone-05 to 2.0.0-milestone-12, deployments using the MongoDB backe…
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Critical 9.2
Remote Code Execution vulnerability in "Suspicious" application
A vulnerability in Thales CERT "Suspicious" application =< 1.3.4 allows a remote and unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code and arbitrarily overwrite writable application files—including Python modules, configuration files, cron inputs, and runtim…
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Critical 9.9
OpenPLC v3 External Control of File Name or Path
OpenPLC Runtime v3 contains an authenticated arbitrary file write vulnerability in the legacy web UI program‑upload workflow. The application stores an attacker‑supplied filename (prog_file) directly into the Programs.File database field and later uses this v…
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Critical 9.1
WP-BusinessDirectory <= 4.0.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion via Path Traversal via '_filename' Parameter
The WP-BusinessDirectory plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion in versions up to and including 4.0.1. This is due to insufficient path validation in the remove() method of the JBusinessDirectoryControllerUpload class. T…
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Critical 10.0CVE-2025-71338 Public exploit
Flowise through 2.2.7 - Arbitrary File Write to Remote Code Execution via document-store API
Flowise through 2.2.7 fails to sanitize path segments in the document-store loader endpoint, allowing unauthenticated attackers to write files outside the storage directory. Attackers can use parent-directory sequences to escape the storage directory and over…
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Critical 9.8CVE-2025-71334 Scanner template
Flowise - Arbitrary File Access via Missing Chat Flow ID Validation
Flowise before 3.0.6 contains an arbitrary file access vulnerability due to missing validation that the chatflowId and chatId parameters are UUIDs or numbers in file handling operations. By supplying a path-traversal value (e.g., '../../../../../tmp') as the …
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Critical 9.3
Flowise - Arbitrary File Upload via Unauthenticated /api/v1/attachments Endpoint
Flowise through 2.2.4 contains an unauthenticated arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the /api/v1/attachments endpoint when storageType is set to local. Attackers can exploit path traversal in the chatId and chatflowId parameters to upload malicious files …
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Critical 9.8
SNMP4J-Agent allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the snmp4jCfgStoragePath component
An issue in SNMP4J-Agent 3.8.3 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the snmp4jCfgStoragePath component.
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Critical 9.8
GD versions before 2.86 for Perl allow OS command injection and file overwrite via a 2-arg open() of filename arguments in _make_filehandle
GD versions before 2.86 for Perl allow OS command injection and file overwrite via a 2-arg open() of filename arguments in _make_filehandle. GD::Image::_make_filehandle opens a filename argument with Perl's 2-arg open(), so a filename that begins or ends with…
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Critical 9.9
Roxy-WI: Authenticated arbitrary file write on every managed load balancer (and downstream RCE) via WAF rule save `config_file_name`
Roxy-WI is a web interface for managing Haproxy, Nginx, Apache and Keepalived servers. In versions 8.2.6.4 and prior, POST /waf/<service>/<server_ip>/rule/<rule_id>/save accepts a config_file_name form field that is passed straight through to config_mod.maste…
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Critical 9.8
Azure Stack Edge Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Azure Stack Edge allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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Critical 9.4
Authenticated Remote Code Execution via File Overwrite
HAX CMS helps manage microsite universe with PHP or NodeJs backends. The PHP version of HAX CMS prior to version 26.0.0 has an authenticated file overwrite vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to configure malicious Git filter commands an…
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Critical 9.9
Mautic vulnerable to Path Traversal via Campaign Import
A path traversal vulnerability exists in the campaign import feature of Mautic 7. When extracting uploaded ZIP files during campaign imports, a flaw in the validation logic allows file paths to escape the intended temporary directories. An authenticated user …
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Critical 9.1
HTTP::Daemon versions before 6.17 for Perl allow OS command injection via send_file()
HTTP::Daemon versions before 6.17 for Perl allow OS command injection via send_file(). send_file() opens its string argument with Perl's 2-arg open(). The 2-arg form interprets magic prefixes: '| cmd' and 'cmd |' open a pipe to a subprocess, '> path' and '>> …
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Critical 9.6
External control of a file name in Ivanti Xtraction before version 2026.2 allows a remote authenticated attacker to rea…
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Critical 9.0
Wazuh cluster sync path traversal in decompress_files() enables arbitrary file write and code execution from authenticated cluster peer
Wazuh is a free and open source platform used for threat prevention, detection, and response. From version 4.4.0 to before version 4.14.4, a path traversal vulnerability in Wazuh's cluster synchronization extraction routine allows an authenticated cluster pee…
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Critical 10.0
Firebird: Path Traversal + Arbitrary File Write Leads to Remote Code Execution
Firebird is an open-source relational database management system. In versions prior to 5.0.4, 4.0.7 and 3.0.14, the external engine plugin loader concatenates a user-supplied engine name into a filesystem path without filtering path separators or .. component…
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Critical 9.1
Chyrp Lite has a Path Traversal to Remote Code Execution
Chyrp Lite is an ultra-lightweight blogging engine. Prior to 2026.01, a path traversal vulnerability exists in the administration console that allows an administrator or a user with Change Settings permission to change the uploads path to any folder. This vul…
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Critical 9.0
An arbitrary file overwrite vulnerability in UXGROUP LLC Cast to TV Screen Mirroring v2.2.77 allows attackers to overwr…
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Critical 9.8
An arbitrary file overwrite vulnerability in DeftPDF Document Translator v54.0 allows attackers to overwrite critical i…