CVE-2020-7646Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary file read via unrestricted file option

Published May 7, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Arbitrary file read in Chris O'Hara curlrequest 1.0.1 and earlier allows attackers to read host files through the file option. In request(), a truthy options.file value replaces curl with cat, passes the supplied path as the sole argument, and returns the child process stdout. Impact requires a consuming Node.js application to pass attacker-controlled input into file; disclosure is limited by the application process filesystem permissions.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability1.88%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file read in Chris O'Hara curlrequest 1.0.1 and earlier allows attackers to read host files through the file option. In request(), a truthy options.file value replaces curl with cat, passes the supplied path as the sole argument, and returns the child process stdout. Impact requires a consuming Node.js application to pass attacker-controlled input into file; disclosure is limited by the application process filesystem permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-7646
Published
May 7, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Chris O'Hara
Product
curlrequest
Classifications
CWE-78, CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 7, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=All versions including 1.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Chris O'Hara · curlrequestversion=All versions including 1.0.1

Published CVSS scores

6.8SnykCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
9.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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