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
380 results · Clear filters · Feed
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High 7.5
Arbitrary file-write via log configuration path in P4Search
Perforce P4 Search prior to 2026.4.2 does not restrict file paths written through its logging configuration interface. An attacker holding the service authentication token can write arbitrary files on the host, potentially leading to code execution as the P4 …
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High 8.5
Mitel MiVoice Office 400 Backup Restoration Arbitrary File Write Leading to Root Code Execution
DigitalCanion has discovered a vulnerability in the backup restoration functionality that allows an attacker with access to the configured backup repository to introduce arbitrary files into the system during restoration. The specific flaw exists within the b…
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High 8.2
Argument injection in the diff scan operation in AWS security-agent-mcp-server allows arbitrary host file creation, overwrite, and truncation outside the intended workspace
An argument injection issue in the diff scan operation in AWS security-agent-mcp-server before version 0.2.0 might allow context-dependent threat actors to create, overwrite, or truncate arbitrary files on the host outside the intended workspace directory via…
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High 8.1
Super Forms <= 6.3.316 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary File/Directory Deletion via 'subdir' / 'path' Parameter
The Super Forms – Drag & Drop Form Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Arbitrary File/Directory Deletion in all versions up to, and including, 6.3.316. This is due to the `super_save_form` AJAX handler performing no capability check — allowing Subsc…
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High 8.7
Cache Enabler < 1.8.17 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File and Directory Deletion via cache_enabler_clear_page_cache_by_url
The Cache Enabler WordPress plugin before 1.8.17 does not validate a URL before using it to build a filesystem path in its cache purge routine, and does not confine the resulting deletion to the cache directory, allowing unauthenticated users to delete arbitr…
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High 7.5
DeepWiki-Open through commit d92819a Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read via /codemap/file
DeepWiki-Open through commit d92819a contains an unauthenticated arbitrary file read vulnerability in the GET /codemap/file endpoint via the repo_url parameter. Attackers can supply a non-URL repo_url value to bypass path containment checks and read any file …
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High 8.1
OpenSave through 2.4.0 Arbitrary File Read and Write via Peer-Controlled Save Path
OpenSave through 2.4.0 fails to properly validate save paths supplied by paired peers in the manifest request handler. Attackers can specify arbitrary directories outside configured save locations to read and write files through manifest and sync routes.
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High 8.5
Cato Networks SDP Client for Windows is vulnerable to Local Privilege Escalation
Cato Networks SDP Client for Windows before 6.12.6 allows a local user to delete arbitrary files with SYSTEM privileges via improper validation of a client-supplied SID over a local IPC named pipe.
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High 8.7
FreePBX: Authenticated Remote Code Execution via File Upload and Convert in Soundlang Module
FreePBX is an open source IP PBX. Prior to versions 16.0.10 and 17.0.5, a critical vulnerability exists in the sound language upload and conversion functionality that allows an authenticated attacker to perform arbitrary file writes, leading directly to remot…
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High 7.6
SiYuan before v3.8.4 Path Traversal via checkoutRepo sessionID
SiYuan versions before v3.8.4 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the checkoutRepo endpoint that allows authenticated administrators to write JSON files outside the workspace. Attackers can supply a sessionID parameter containing directory traversal seq…
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High 7.6
SiYuan before v3.8.4 Path Traversal via setNotebookIcon
SiYuan versions before v3.8.4 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the setNotebookIcon endpoint that allows authenticated administrators to create arbitrary directory trees and write files outside the workspace boundary. Attackers can supply directory tr…
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High 8.8
Authenticated Remote Code Execution via Arbitrary File Write in the Intermec Fingerprint Command Interface
An Authenticated Remote Code Execution via Arbitrary File Write in the Intermec Fingerprint Command Interface vulnerability in the web management interface in Honeywell PD45 Industrial Printer version F10.19.010040, allows an authenticated user with access to…
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High 7.2
Plex Media Server arbitrary file write
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KEV Oct 20, 2026 -
High 7.8
Foxit PDF Editor/Reader Portfolio Directory Traversal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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High 8.3
MCP Atlassian: Arbitrary server-local file upload to Jira/Confluence attachments via unrestricted file_path parameters
MCP Atlassian is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Atlassian products (Confluence and Jira). Prior to 0.22.0, Jira and Confluence upload tools interpret caller-controlled path arguments on the MCP server and open those files before sending them as att…
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High 8.4CVE-2026-83603 Public exploit
Netdata: Local Root via ndsudo Arbitrary socket_path → fail2ban-client Pickle RCE
Netdata is an open source observability tool. Prior to 2.10.4, the setuid-root ndsudo helper command fail2ban-client-status-socket in src/collectors/utils/ndsudo.c accepts a caller-controlled --socket_path from the low-privileged netdata service account. The …
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High 7.1
@roomi-fields/notebooklm-mcp has path traversal in vault.batch tool that allows arbitrary file write outside intended vault directory
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High 8.8
Conda: Entry-point path traversal in noarch:python install (arbitrary file write) — canonical Python implementation
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High 8.3
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High 8.1
An external control of file name or path vulnerability in Upload API in Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) before 7.2.1…
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High 7.7
yutu: Arbitrary File Write via MCP `caption-download` Tool
yutu is an AI-powered toolkit for managing and growing YouTube channels. Prior to 0.10.9, the caption-download MCP tool accepts a caller-controlled file parameter through cmd/caption/download.go and passes it to Caption.Download() in pkg/caption/caption.go, w…
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High 8.4
uniget: Path Traversal in Hook Files - Directory Escape Vulnerability
uniget is a universal installer and updater for (container) tools. Prior to 0.27.6, the hooks edit command in cmd/uniget/hooks.go concatenates an unvalidated hook filename with the selected hooks directory, allowing parent-directory components to escape that …
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High 8.3
mport package bundle downloads allow unsafe destination filenames
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High 8.6
Nozomi Networks Labs identified a CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path vulnerability in the backup-restore wor…
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High 7.5
Anyquery: Local File Read (LFR) via Unrestricted SQLite Virtual Table Modules in Server Mode
Anyquery is an SQL query engine built on top of SQLite. Prior to 0.4.5, anyquery server exposes file-backed SQLite virtual table modules such as csv_reader and log_reader through its MySQL-compatible server port without authentication, authorization, or direc…
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High 7.7
MCP Atlassian: Arbitrary server-side file read via attachment upload
MCP Atlassian is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Atlassian products (Confluence and Jira). Prior to 0.22.0, the confluence_upload_attachment and confluence_upload_attachments tools pass a client-controlled file_path through src/mcp_atlassian/conflue…
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High 7.5
DeepWiki-Open through commit d92819a Arbitrary File Read via /ws/chat WebSocket
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High 7.2CVE-2026-90932 Public exploit
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High 7.2
mistral.rs Media Loader: Unauthenticated SSRF and arbitrary local file read via image_url
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High 8.5
Snipe-IT before 8.7.0 Arbitrary File Read and SSRF via Markdown
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High 8.5
Snipe-IT before 8.7.0 Arbitrary File Read and SSRF via Category EULA
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High 7.3
Dell SCG 5.0 Appliance versions prior to 5.36.00.16 and Dell SCG 5.0 Application versions prior to 5.36.00.00, contains…
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High 8.7
SiYuan before v3.8.2 Path Traversal via removeRiffDeck
SiYuan versions before v3.8.2 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the /api/riff/removeRiffDeck endpoint that fails to validate the deckID parameter. An authenticated administrator can supply path traversal sequences to delete arbitrary .deck and .cards …
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High 7.1
OpenAPI3 version value escapes `emitterOutputDir` and overwrites YAML/JSON outside the output tree
### Summary The `@typespec/openapi3` emitter retains the value of a `@versioned` enum member and interpolates it into the output filename as `{version}` without sanitizing path separators or traversal components. The completed path reaches the compiler's `emi…
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High 7.8
Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
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High 7.5
.NET Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in .NET allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.0
Windows Shell Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Windows Shell allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.8
Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Microsoft Exchange Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 7.8
PassMark PerformanceTest, BurnInTest, and OSForensics Physical Memory Disclosure via DirectIo64.sys IOCTL
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High 7.1
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