CVE-2024-45593Network attack vector

Arbitrary file writes via unsafe NAR restoration

Published Sep 10, 2024 · Updated Sep 10, 2024

Path traversal in Nix 2.24.0 through 2.24.5 allows attackers to write files outside the intended NAR restoration directory. RestoreSink fails to reject duplicate or pre-existing entries while unpacking a crafted NAR, allowing later entries to follow attacker-created filesystem objects beyond the destination. A malicious substituter or Nix user must supply the archive; writes carry the Nix process's permissions and are root-level when the daemon performs the unpacking.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.60%
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 Nix 2.24.0 through 2.24.5 allows attackers to write files outside the intended NAR restoration directory. RestoreSink fails to reject duplicate or pre-existing entries while unpacking a crafted NAR, allowing later entries to follow attacker-created filesystem objects beyond the destination. A malicious substituter or Nix user must supply the archive; writes carry the Nix process's permissions and are root-level when the daemon performs the unpacking.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-45593
Published
Sep 10, 2024
Updated
Sep 10, 2024
Vendor
NixOS
Product
Nix
Classifications
CWE-22, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 10, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 10, 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=>= 2.24.0, < 2.24.6
  2. Affected versionversion=2.24.0 <2.24.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NixOS · Nixversion=>= 2.24.0, < 2.24.6; version=2.24.0 <2.24.6

Published CVSS scores

9.0GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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