CVE-2023-29159Public exploitNetwork attack vector

File disclosure via character-prefix path validation

Published Jun 1, 2023 · Updated Jan 9, 2025

Path traversal in StaticFiles in Kludex Starlette 0.13.5 through 0.26.1 allows remote attackers to read unintended server files. StaticFiles.lookup_path uses os.path.commonprefix, which compares path strings character by character and accepts sibling paths sharing the configured directory's prefix. The service must mount StaticFiles and have a neighboring file or directory with that prefix; no authentication or user interaction is required.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability2.05%
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 StaticFiles in Kludex Starlette 0.13.5 through 0.26.1 allows remote attackers to read unintended server files. StaticFiles.lookup_path uses os.path.commonprefix, which compares path strings character by character and accepts sibling paths sharing the configured directory's prefix. The service must mount StaticFiles and have a neighboring file or directory with that prefix; no authentication or user interaction is required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-29159
Published
Jun 1, 2023
Updated
Jan 9, 2025
Vendor
Kludex
Product
Starlette
Classifications
CWE-22, T1005, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 1, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 9, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=versions 0.13.5 and later and prior to 0.27.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Kludex · Starletteversion=versions 0.13.5 and later and prior to 0.27.0

Published CVSS scores

3.7KludexCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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')
T1005Data from Local System
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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