Authenticated JSON disclosure via unchecked translation path
Published Nov 29, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024
Path traversal in NodeBB 1.0.4 through 1.18.4 allows remote authenticated users to read JSON files outside the languages directory. Languages.get joins user-controlled language and namespace values to languagesPath and passes the result to fs.promises.readFile without first confirming that the resolved path remains inside that directory. A low-privileged account can disclose reachable JSON content, including configuration secrets, but this flaw alone does not write files or execute code.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in NodeBB 1.0.4 through 1.18.4 allows remote authenticated users to read JSON files outside the languages directory. Languages.get joins user-controlled language and namespace values to languagesPath and passes the result to fs.promises.readFile without first confirming that the resolved path remains inside that directory. A low-privileged account can disclose reachable JSON content, including configuration secrets, but this flaw alone does not write files or execute code.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-43788
- Published
- Nov 29, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 4, 2024
- Vendor
- NodeBB
- Product
- NodeBB
- Classifications
- CWE-22, T1005
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 29, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=>= 1.0.4, < 1.18.5
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- NodeBB translator path-traversal proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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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