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
378 results · Clear filters · Feed
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High 7.8
Windows Print Spooler Components Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper privilege management in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.2
Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Microsoft Exchange Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.5
Multiple Vulnerabilities in IBM API Connect
IBM API Connect 12.1.0.0 through 12.1.1.2 could allow a remote attacker to read arbitrary files on the server due to external control of a file name or path.
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High 8.1
Chartbrew: Arbitrary file deletion as root via data connection SSL/SSH paths
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High 8.1
Lavish: DNS rebinding allows any website to read arbitrary local files and inject prompts into the AI agent via the unauthenticated local server
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High 8.4
Symfony: The Serializer Builds UploadedFile Objects From Request Data, Letting a Client Point an Upload at Any Server File
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High 8.2
Symfony: DataUriNormalizer Opens Data URIs With a Non-Lowercase Scheme as Local Files, Letting a Client Read Any Server File
The Symfony Serializer component DataUriNormalizer::denormalize() matches the data: scheme with a case-sensitive regular expression, allowing a value with an uppercase scheme, such as DATA:,/../../../etc/passwd, to bypass it, resulting in Arbitrary Local File…
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High 8.7
Ever Accounting < 2.3.3 - Accounting Manager+ Arbitrary File Deletion via CSV Import
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High 8.0
MariaDB server: Authorization bypass via ALTER TABLE ... CONVERT ... PARTITION
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High 7.1
Apache OFBiz: webtools xmldsdump exports any entity to any path
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High 7.1
Local Privilege Escalation in Virtual Intranet Access (VIA) Client for Linux
An arbitrary file write vulnerability exists in the Virtual Intranet Access (VIA) client. Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker with low privileges to escalate privileges on the affected system.
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High 7.8
Authenticated Local Arbitrary File Write Vulnerability in HPE Networking Fabric Composer
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High 8.1
AdminNeo SQLite Database-List Drop Arbitrary File Deletion
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High 8.4
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High 7.2
Single Content Sync - Critical - External control of file name or path - SA-CONTRIB-2026-274
External Control of File Name or Path vulnerability in Drupal Single Content Sync allows Path Traversal. This issue affects Single Content Sync versions: from 0.0.0 to 1.4.19.
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High 7.8
A malicious actor with local access and low privileges could exploit an External Control of File Name or Path vulnerabi…
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High 7.2
Fireware OS Missing Command Validation allows Authenticated Arbitrary File Modification as Root
An external control of file path vulnerability in a WatchGuard Fireware OS firewall diagnostic command allows a remote, authenticated attacker with at least read-only (Device Monitor) privileges and access to the management CLI to create, truncate, or overwri…
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High 7.1
Fireware OS Link Following in firewalld Allows Local Arbitrary File Overwrite as Root
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High 8.1
PraisonAI GitHub template cache path traversal allows outside-cache file write and directory deletion
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High 8.1
Rsyslog: DynFile Path Traversal → Arbitrary File Write as Root → RCE
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High 7.5
Apache bRPC: Arbitrary file creation/truncation via /flags and unbounded profiling duration via /pprof
External control of file name or path and uncontrolled resource consumption in Apache bRPC (version < 1.18.0) on all platforms allows remote attackers who can reach the builtin service port to create directories and truncate/overwrite files with the privilege…
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High 7.5
-J no-clobber guarantee bypassed with 103 early hints
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High 7.5
GitPython before 3.2.0 Arbitrary File Read via Head.checkout() Branch Name
GitPython before 3.2.0 contains an argument injection vulnerability in Head.checkout() that allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files by supplying a branch name parsed as a git option. Attackers can host a repository whose default branch is named --path…
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High 7.1
F´: Arbitrary File Write in Svc::FileUplink via attacker-controlled StartPacket.destinationPath
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High 8.7
A remote code execution vulnerability in ONLYOFFICE Document Server versions before10.0.0 allows an authenticated attac…
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High 7.8
Windows Update Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Windows Update allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.0
NLTK through 3.10.3 Path Traversal via WekaClassifier Model Path
NLTK through 3.10.3 contains a path traversal vulnerability in WekaClassifier that allows attackers to bypass nltk.pathsec containment by supplying unvalidated model paths. Attackers controlling the model_filename or model argument can make the weka JVM write…
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High 7.5
Frappe Framework before v16.30.0 Arbitrary File Read via Outgoing Email HTML
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High 8.1
ConvertX: Path Traversal vulnerability leading to Arbitrary File Write
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High 7.4
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High 7.1
LobsterAI 2026.5.27 through 2026.9.23 Arbitrary Directory Deletion via Skill _meta.json
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High 7.5
datamodel-code-generator: Protobuf weak-import path traversal allows files to be written outside the temporary directory
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High 8.4
An arbitrary file manipulation vulnerability exists in the WebTools management interface of Brocade Fabric OS versions …
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High 7.1
Quasar Framework: Path Traversal / Arbitrary File Write via crafted Icon Genie profile
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High 8.1
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High 7.5
Docling: Arbitrary file read/write (and command execution when shell-escape is enabled) when rendering untrusted TikZ with the opt-in Tectonic engine
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High 8.4
In Eclipse Che versions 7.29.0 and later, the GET `/api/scm/resolve` and `POST /api/factory/resolver` endpoints pass an…
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High 8.4
Mitel MiVoice Office 400 Shared Object Hijacking Leading to Arbitrary Code Execution
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High 7.5
Arbitrary file-write via log configuration path in P4Search
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High 8.5
Mitel MiVoice Office 400 Backup Restoration Arbitrary File Write Leading to Root Code Execution
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