CVE-2022-45299Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary file access via unvalidated URL input

Published Jan 13, 2023 · Updated Apr 7, 2025

Path traversal in webbrowser before 0.8.3 allows remote attackers to open arbitrary local files through crafted input passed to webbrowser::open. When URL parsing fails, TargetType treats the value as a path and platform launch code passes it onward, allowing local file associations or registered handlers to process the input. Exploitation requires an application to pass an unfiltered attacker-controlled value to the library; the resulting action runs with that application's permissions.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in webbrowser before 0.8.3 allows remote attackers to open arbitrary local files through crafted input passed to webbrowser::open. When URL parsing fails, TargetType treats the value as a path and platform launch code passes it onward, allowing local file associations or registered handlers to process the input. Exploitation requires an application to pass an unfiltered attacker-controlled value to the library; the resulting action runs with that application's permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-45299
Published
Jan 13, 2023
Updated
Apr 7, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-22
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 7, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NVDCVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

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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