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
382 results · Clear filters · Feed
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High 7.1
OpenClaw < 2026.2.12 - Arbitrary File Write via Untrusted sessionFile Path
OpenClaw versions prior to 2026.2.12 fail to validate the sessionFile path parameter, allowing authenticated gateway clients to write transcript data to arbitrary locations on the host filesystem. Attackers can supply a sessionFile path outside the sessions d…
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High 8.6
ZimaOS: Arbitrary Deletion of Internal System Files via API Path Manipulation
ZimaOS is a fork of CasaOS, an operating system for Zima devices and x86-64 systems with UEFI. In version 1.5.2-beta3, users are restricted from deleting internal system files or folders through the application interface. However, when interacting directly wi…
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High 8.6CVE-2026-28286 Public exploit
ZimaOS: Unauthorized Creation of Files/Folders in Restricted System Directories via API
ZimaOS is a fork of CasaOS, an operating system for Zima devices and x86-64 systems with UEFI. In version 1.5.2-beta3, the application enforces restrictions in the frontend/UI to prevent users from creating files or folders in internal OS paths. However, when…
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High 7.1
ADB Explorer is Vulnerable to Arbitrary Directory Deletion via Command-Line Argument
ADB Explorer is a fluent UI for ADB on Windows. Versions 0.9.26020 and below have an unvalidated command-line argument that allows any user to trigger recursive deletion of arbitrary directories on the Windows filesystem. ADB Explorer accepts an optional path…
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High 8.8
Music Assistant Server Path Traversal in Playlist Update API Allows Remote Code Execution
Music Assistant is an open-source media library manager that integrates streaming services with connected speakers. Versions 2.6.3 and below allow unauthenticated network-adjacent attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations. The music/playli…
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High 7.5
Penpot has Arbitrary File Read via create-font-variant RPC endpoint
Penpot is an open-source design tool for design and code collaboration. Prior to version 2.13.2, an authenticated user can read arbitrary files from the server by supplying a local file path (e.g. `/etc/passwd`) as a font data chunk in the `create-font-varian…
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High 8.1
Dell Unisphere for PowerMax, version(s) 10.2, contain(s) an External Control of File Name or Path vulnerability. A low …
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High 8.8
Dell Unisphere for PowerMax, version(s) 10.2, contain(s) an External Control of File Name or Path vulnerability. A low …
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High 8.2
OpenStack Nova calls qemu-img without format restrictions for resize
An issue was discovered in OpenStack Nova before 30.2.2, 31 before 31.2.1, and 32 before 32.1.1. By writing a malicious QCOW header to a root or ephemeral disk and then triggering a resize, a user may convince Nova's Flat image backend to call qemu-img withou…
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High 7.7
In Infoblox NIOS through 9.0.7, a High-Privileged User Can Trigger an Arbitrary File Write via the Account Creation Mec…
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High 7.1
Arbitrary File Read in Keras via HDF5 External Datasets
Arbitrary file read in the model loading mechanism (HDF5 integration) in Keras versions 3.0.0 through 3.13.1 on all supported platforms allows a remote attacker to read local files and disclose sensitive information via a crafted .keras model file utilizing H…
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High 7.0CVE-2026-26157 Public exploit
Busybox: busybox: arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead t…
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High 7.0
Busybox: busybox: arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entries
A flaw was found in BusyBox. This vulnerability allows an attacker to modify files outside of the intended extraction directory by crafting a malicious tar archive containing unvalidated hardlink or symlink entries. If the tar archive is extracted with elevat…
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High 8.6
Qdrant affected by arbitrary file write via `/logger` endpoint
Qdrant is a vector similarity search engine and vector database. From 1.9.3 to before 1.16.0, it is possible to append to arbitrary files via /logger endpoint using an attacker-controlled on_disk.log_file path. Minimal privileges are required (read-only acces…
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High 8.2
calibre has a Path Traversal Leading to Arbitrary File Corruption and Code Execution
calibre is an e-book manager. In 9.1.0 and earlier, a path traversal vulnerability in Calibre's EPUB conversion allows a malicious EPUB file to corrupt arbitrary existing files writable by the Calibre process. During conversion, Calibre resolves CipherReferen…
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High 8.8
i-doit Open Source CMDB 1.14.1 - Arbitrary File Deletion
i-doit Open Source CMDB 1.14.1 contains a file deletion vulnerability in the import module that allows authenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files by manipulating the delete_import parameter. Attackers can send a POST request to the import module with a…
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High 8.8
Hestia Control Panel 1.3.2 - Arbitrary File Write
Hestia Control Panel 1.3.2 contains an arbitrary file write vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to write files to arbitrary locations using the API index.php endpoint. Attackers can exploit the v-make-tmp-file command to write SSH keys or other …
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High 7.5
NodeBB Plugin Emoji 3.2.1 - Arbitrary File Write
NodeBB Plugin Emoji 3.2.1 contains an arbitrary file write vulnerability that allows administrative users to write files to arbitrary system locations through the emoji upload API. Attackers with admin access can craft file upload requests with directory trav…
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High 7.7
Arbitrary File Read in Google BigQuery Sink connector
Kafka Connect BigQuery Connector is an implementation of a sink connector from Apache Kafka to Google BigQuery. Prior to 2.11.0, there is an arbitrary file read in Google BigQuery Sink connector. Aiven's Google BigQuery Kafka Connect Sink connector requires G…
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High 8.1
DPanel has an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in /api/common/attach/delete interface
DPanel is an open source server management panel written in Go. Prior to 1.9.2, DPanel has an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in the /api/common/attach/delete interface. Authenticated users can delete arbitrary files on the server via path traversal. Wh…
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High 8.0
Windows Telephony Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Windows Telephony Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over an adjacent network.
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High 7.3
Local users can perform a local root exploit via smb4k mounthelper
An External Control of File Name or Path vulnerability in smb4k allowsl ocal users to perform a local root exploit via smb4k mounthelper if they can access and control the contents of a Samba shareThis issue affects smb4k: from ? before 4.0.5.
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High 7.0
HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync
An external control of file name or path vulnerability has been reported to affect HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync. If an attacker gains local network access, they can then exploit the vulnerability to read or modify files or directories. We have already fixed the v…
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High 7.1
Langflow Vulnerable to External Control of File Name or Path
Langflow is a tool for building and deploying AI-powered agents and workflows. Prior to version 1.7.0, if an arbitrary path is specified in the request body's `fs_path`, the server serializes the Flow object into JSON and creates/overwrites a file at that pat…
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High 7.5
@vitejs/plugin-rsc has Arbitrary File Read via `/__vite_rsc_findSourceMapURL` Endpoint on Development
@vitejs/plugin-rs provides React Server Components (RSC) support for Vite. Prior to version 0.5.8, the `/__vite_rsc_findSourceMapURL` endpoint in `@vitejs/plugin-rsc` allows unauthenticated arbitrary file read during development mode. An attacker can read any…
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High 8.8
ConvertX has Path Traversal that leads to Arbitrary File Write and Arbitrary Code Execution
ConvertXis a self-hosted online file converter. In versions prior to 0.16.0, the endpoint `/upload` allows an authenticated user to write arbitrary files on the system, overwriting binaries and allowing code execution. The upload function takes `file.name` di…
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High 7.8
Windows Storage VSP Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Missing authentication for critical function in Windows Storage VSP Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.7
ReQuest Serious Play F3 Media Player <= 3.0.0 Directory Traversal File Disclosure
ReQuest Serious Play Media Player 3.0 contains an unauthenticated file disclosure vulnerability when input passed through the 'file' parameter in and script is not properly verified before being used to read web log files. Attackers can exploit this to disclo…
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High 8.8
Cost Calculator Builder <= 3.6.3 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion
The Cost Calculator Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the deleteOrdersFiles() function in all versions up to, and including, 3.6.3. This makes it possible for unauthenticated atta…
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High 7.8
Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion (upgrade_contents.php)
Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion (upgrade_contents.php) in DB Electronica Telecomunicazioni S.p.A. Mozart FM Transmitter versions 30, 50, 100, 300, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 3500, 6000, 7000 allows an attacker to perform The deleteupgrade parameter allows…
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High 7.7
Wazuh NetNTLMv2 Hash Theft In Multiple Centralized Configuration Capabilities
Wazuh is a free and open source platform used for threat prevention, detection, and response. Prior to version 4.13.0, a vulnerability in Wazuh Agent allows authenticated attackers to force NTLM authentication through malicious UNC paths in various agent conf…
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High 8.1
WP AUDIO GALLERY <= 2.0 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary File Deletion via 'audio_upload' Parameter
The WP AUDIO GALLERY plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in all versions up to, and including, 2.0. This is due to the `wpag_uploadaudio_callback()` AJAX handler not properly validating user-s…
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High 7.8
Windows WLAN Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Windows WLAN Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.5
Auto Amazon Links – Amazon Associates Affiliate Plugin <= 5.4.3 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read
The Auto Amazon Links – Amazon Associates Affiliate Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary files reads in all versions up to, and including, 5.4.3 via the '/wp-json/wp/v2/aal_ajax_unit_loading' RST API endpoint. This makes it possible for unau…
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High 8.5
Nagios XI < 5.7.3 Privilege escalation via Insecure getprofile.sh Script
Nagios XI versions prior to 5.7.3 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability in the getprofile.sh helper script. The script performed profile retrieval and initialization routines using insecure file/command handling and insufficient validation of attacker-…
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High 8.2
aiomysql allows arbitrary access to client files through vulnerability of a malicious MySQL server
aiomysql is a library for accessing a MySQL database from the asyncio. Prior to version 0.3.0, the client-side settings are not checked before sending local files to MySQL server, which allows obtaining arbitrary files from the client using a rogue server. It…
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High 7.7
Frigate Vulnerable to Arbitrary File Read via Export Thumbnail "image_path" parameter
Frigate is a network video recorder (NVR) with realtime local object detection for IP cameras. Prior to 0.16.2, Frigate's export workflow allows an authenticated operator to nominate any filesystem location as the thumbnail source for a video export. Because …
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High 8.2
Confidential Azure Container Instances Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Confidential Azure Container Instances allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.2
Azure Compute Gallery Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Confidential Azure Container Instances allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.7
Data Sharing Service Spoofing Vulnerability
Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Data Sharing Service Client allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing locally.