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Path traversal: access to files from any project

High
stsewd published GHSA-5w8m-r7jm-mhp9 Feb 1, 2023

Package

Read the Docs (Python)

Affected versions

<= 9.3.1

Patched versions

9.4.0

Description

Impact

This vulnerability could allow a malicious user to access documentation files from any project given its slug, regardless of user permissions. This was possible using a crafted URL that can bypass our path traversal protections.

Users of https://readthedocs.org/ and https://readthedocs.com/ do not need to take any further action, we have taken measures to ensure that the security issue is now fully fixed.

This issue was discovered by a member of our team, and we have seen no signs that this vulnerability was exploited. This issue also required knowing the domain and path of the file that an attacker wanted to read, and didn't allow access to any files outside of our S3 bucket that stores documentation.

Custom installations

We don't officially support custom installations of Read the Docs, but If you are using a custom installation, we recommend you to upgrade.

Patches

This vulnerability has been patched in our 9.4.0 release.

References

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email us at security@readthedocs.org (PGP)

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVE ID

No known CVE

Weaknesses

Credits