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
825 results · Feed
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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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Critical 9.0
ntp: write path traversal
OPNsense is a FreeBSD based firewall and routing platform. Prior to version 26.1.9 of opnsense/core and version 26.4_20 of BE/opnsense/core, a path traversal vulnerability in the NTP configuration module allows an attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the …
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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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Medium 5.3
n8n: Git Node branch.<name>.remote Config Key Bypasses Sandbox Path Restriction, Enabling Local Git Repository Read
n8n is an open source workflow automation platform. Prior to 1.123.76, 2.37.7, and 2.38.2, the Git node validated the repository parameter for fetch or pull, but setUpstream wrote a branch..remote value into repository configuration without validating it. A l…
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Medium 5.9
Improper Path Validation in Okta Access Gateway Kerberos Configuration Handling
The Okta Access Gateway Kerberos configuration handler does not validate file paths specified in event payloads before writing file contents. The path from the event payload is used directly as the write destination, resulting in files being written to uninte…
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Critical 9.8
Skype for Business Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Skype for Business allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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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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Medium 5.6
The Windows interactive service in OpenVPN 2.4.0 through 2.6.22 allows local authenticated users to bypass the trusted …
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Critical 9.8
WWBN AVideo Unauthenticated Path Traversal via notify.ffmpeg.json.php
WWBN AVideo contains a path traversal vulnerability in notify.ffmpeg.json.php that allows unauthenticated attackers to write files to arbitrary locations by supplying a caller-chosen path in the avideoRelativePath parameter. Attackers can replay any previousl…
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High 7.8
PassMark PerformanceTest, BurnInTest, and OSForensics Physical Memory Disclosure via DirectIo64.sys IOCTL
PassMark PerformanceTest before 11.1 build 1012, BurnInTest before 11.1 build 1000, and OSForensics before 11.1 build 1016 contain an information disclosure vulnerability in DirectIo64.sys that allows unauthenticated local attackers to dump complete physical …
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High 7.1
PassMark PerformanceTest, BurnInTest, and OSForensics Kernel Null Pointer Dereference via DirectIo64.sys IOCTL
PassMark PerformanceTest before 11.1 build 1012, BurnInTest before 11.1 build 1000, and OSForensics before 11.1 build 1016 contain an unauthenticated physical memory disclosure in DirectIo64.sys, reachable by unprivileged local users through a single IOCTL wi…
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High 7.5
surya 0.22.1 Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read via screenshot server
surya 0.22.1 screenshot server contains an unauthenticated arbitrary file read vulnerability in the /info, /page, and /process routes that accept raw file_path parameters. Attackers can read any image or PDF file on the host by supplying arbitrary file paths …
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Critical 9.1
marker through 2.0.0 Path Traversal via upload filename
marker through 2.0.0 contains a path traversal vulnerability in the FastAPI /marker/upload handler that fails to sanitize the file.filename parameter. Unauthenticated attackers can supply filenames containing directory traversal sequences to write arbitrary f…
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High 7.5
Xinference 3.3.0 Unauthenticated Arbitrary-Path File Read via /v1/models/llm/auto-register
Xinference (affected commit 4a94832, v3.x) contains an unauthenticated arbitrary-path file read vulnerability in the POST /v1/models/llm/auto-register endpoint, which accepts a caller-supplied model_path parameter without authentication or path confinement. T…
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Medium 6.5
Grav Admin Plugin Path Traversal via Save As Language Code
Grav versions before 1.10.55 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the admin plugin's Save As action that fails to validate the language code parameter. An authenticated admin user with admin.pages.create permission can supply directory traversal sequence…
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Medium 5.5
WPvivid Backup & Migration < 0.9.134 - Admin+ Arbitrary File Deletion via Path Traversal
The WPvivid — Backup, Migration & Staging WordPress plugin before 0.9.134 does not validate a user supplied path before using it in a file deletion routine, allowing administrators to delete arbitrary files on the server, including files outside the web root.
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Medium 5.9
Frontend Admin by DynamiApps < 3.29.13 - Unauthenticated .htaccess and index.php Deletion via Custom Directory Path Traversal
The Frontend Admin by DynamiApps WordPress plugin before 3.29.13 does not properly validate a user-controllable directory path before deleting files within it, allowing unauthenticated attackers to delete index.php and .htaccess files outside the intended dir…
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High 7.2
An arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in the /adminapi/file/video_data_save component of CRMEB v6.0.0 allows authent…
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Medium 6.5
OpenList: Authenticated arbitrary file write via Content-Disposition path traversal in SimpleHttp offline-download tool
OpenList a file list program that supports multiple storage. Prior to 4.2.3, OpenList's offline-download feature at POST /api/fs/add_offline_download with tool: "SimpleHttp" accepts an attacker-supplied URL and saves its bytes under a per-task temporary direc…
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High 8.8
DbGate through 7.2.6 Arbitrary File Read and Write via file:// jslid
DbGate fails to validate jslid parameters in the jsldata controller, allowing authenticated users to read and write arbitrary files via file:// scheme resolution. Attackers can exploit getJslFileName() to bypass directory containment and access sensitive file…
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High 8.1
AVideo through c91b5975d CSRF and Path Traversal via stopLive.php
AVideo through commit c91b5975d contains a cross-site request forgery and path traversal vulnerability in stopLive.php that allows attackers to delete directories by exploiting missing token validation and unsanitized key parameter concatenation. Attackers ca…
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High 7.3
WWBN AVideo Unauthenticated Arbitrary Log File Deletion
WWBN AVideo contains a path traversal vulnerability in the API get_api_login_code endpoint that allows unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary .log files by supplying directory traversal sequences in the code parameter. Attackers can exploit this to des…
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High 7.5
Laravel Excel writes exports outside the configured filesystem disk when given a caller-controlled path
Laravel Excel provides supercharged Excel exports and imports in Laravel. From 3.1.8 until 3.1.70, in src/Files/Disk.php the Maatwebsite\Excel\Files\Disk::copy() method resolves the caller-controlled $destination supplied through Excel::store(), $export->stor…
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High 7.3
Authenticated Arbitrary File Write Vulnerability Leading to Remote Code Execution in AOS-CX
An authenticated arbitrary file write vulnerability exists in AOS-CX. Successful exploitation could allow an authenticated malicious actor, under specific conditions outside the attacker's control and following a required action by another user, to create or …
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High 7.2
Authenticated Insecure File Handling allows Remote Code Execution in HPE Networking Fabric Composer API
Insecure file operations in the API of HPE Networking Fabric Composer could allow an authenticated remote attacker to achieve remote code execution. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands as a privileged user on the unde…
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High 7.2
Authenticated Arbitrary File Write Vulnerability leads to Remote Code Execution in HPE Networking Fabric Composer
An arbitrary file write vulnerability exists in the API of HPE Networking Fabric Composer and could allow an authenticated administrative user to escalate privileges. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may enable the attacker to execute arbitrary s…
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High 7.1
pnpm: pacquet trust-lockfile install can create dependency symlinks outside the project
## Summary A crafted lockfile alias could reach several install-time filesystem joins. With `--trust-lockfile` or a frozen lockfile, traversal segments could create links outside the intended project or `node_modules` boundary. This patch validates dependency…
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High 7.5
pnpm: A tarball dependency's manifest `name` escapes node_modules → arbitrary file write/overwrite on install
pnpm is a package manager. Prior to 10.34.5 and 11.11.0, pnpm accepts a scoped path traversal in a tarball dependency's package.json manifest name because pnpm11/resolving/npm-resolver/src/pickPackage.ts rejects slash characters only for unscoped names. Durin…
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Medium 6.0
oasdiff does not enforce --allow-external-refs=false on the git-revision load path (SSRF / local file read)
oasdiff is a command-line and Go package that compares and detects breaking changes in OpenAPI specs. From version 1.13.2 through version 1.18.0, oasdiff did not enforce --allow-external-refs=false (library: openapi3.Loader.IsExternalRefsAllowed = false) when…
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High 7.1
nodemailer before 9.0.1 File Read and SSRF via raw option
nodemailer before 9.0.1 fails to apply disableFileAccess and disableUrlAccess flags to message-level raw option, allowing authenticated attackers to read arbitrary files or perform server-side request forgery by supplying path or href properties. Attackers ca…
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Medium 5.3
browser-use web-ui 2.0.0 through 3.0.0 Arbitrary Directory Creation
browser-use web-ui versions 2.0.0 through 3.0.0 fail to validate browser settings paths in run_agent_task, allowing attackers to create directories at arbitrary locations by supplying absolute paths to save_recording_path, save_trace_path, save_agent_history_…
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Medium 6.5
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Spoofing Vulnerability
External control of file name or path in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing over a network.
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High 7.5
Shared Files < 1.7.70 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read
The shared-files-pro WordPress plugin before 1.7.70 does not validate the file path supplied when creating a featured image, allowing unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files from the server and republish their contents at a public URL.
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Medium 6.8CVE-2026-12513 Public exploit
Shared Files < 1.7.68 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion via Path Traversal
The Shared Files WordPress plugin before 1.7.67, shared-files-pro WordPress plugin before 1.7.68 do not properly sanitize a file path taken from a frontend file submission and their single-pass traversal filter is bypassable, allowing unauthenticated users to…
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High 8.1
Trilium arbitrary file read and denial of service via file:// URLs in the automatic image-download feature
Trilium is an open-source hierarchical note-taking application. In versions prior to 0.104.0, the automatic image-download feature accepts file:// URLs in a note's img tags and reads the referenced local file with no path validation, allowing any authenticate…
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High 7.1
NLTK before 3.10.3 Hardlink File Overwrite via downloader
NLTK versions before 3.10.3 contain a filesystem containment bypass vulnerability in the Downloader.download and Downloader.incr_download methods that allows attackers to overwrite files outside the install root through pre-existing hardlinks. Attackers with …