changedetection.io path traversal using file URI scheme without supplying hostname
Summary
The validation for the file URI scheme falls short, and results in an attacker being able to read any file on the system. This issue only affects instances with a webdriver enabled, and ALLOW_FILE_URI false or not defined.
Details
The check used for URL protocol, is_safe_url, allows file: as a URL scheme:
It later checks if local files are permitted, but one of the preconditions for the check is that the URL starts with file://. The issue comes with the fact that the file URI scheme is not required to have double slashes.
A valid file URI must therefore begin with either
file:/path(no hostname),file:///path(empty hostname), orfile://hostname/path. — Wikipedia
PoC
- Open up a changedetection.io instance with a webdriver configured
- Create a new watch:
file:/etc/passwdor a similar path for your operating system. Enable webdriver mode - Wait for it to be checked
- Open preview
- Notice contents of the file
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | changedetection-io | < 0.47.6 | 0.47.6 |
References
- https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/security/advisories/GHSA-6jrf-rcjf-245r
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-51998
- https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/commit/49bc982c697169c98b79698889fb9d26f6b3317f
- https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io
- https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/blob/e0abf0b50507a8a3d0c1d8522ab23519b3e4cdf4/changedetectionio/model/Watch.py#L11-L13
- https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/blob/e0abf0b50507a8a3d0c1d8522ab23519b3e4cdf4/changedetectionio/processors/__init__.py#L37-L41
- https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/releases/tag/0.47.06
- https://pypi.org/project/changedetection-io
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-6jrf-rcjf-245r
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
changedetection-io- Disclosed
- 07.11.2024
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-1239 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-6jrf-rcjf-245r - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: changedetection-io
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 20
- First → latest
- 02.2023 05.2026
- Without a fix
- 1
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 2
- High 9
- Medium 6
- Low 2
- Unrated 1
Disclosures per year
- 2023: 1
- 2024: 6
- 2025: 2
- 2026: 11
-
changedetection.io path traversal using file URI scheme without supplying hostname this entry
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