GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf: Public Path Traversal Vulnerability

MODERATE
Share
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf is a MODERATE path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Public libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves path traversal in public. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Public
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Public dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

public fixed: Latest secure release 
npm install public@Latest secure release
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls public

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls public

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Public in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls public command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. In Public, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

All versions of `public` are vulnerable to Path Traversal. This vulnerability allows an attacker to access files outside the webroot since it allows symlink navigation in the URL. ## Recommendation No fix is currently available. Do not use `public` in production or consider using an alternative module until a fix is made available.

GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf Affected Public Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
public
npm/public
npm
≥ 0.0.0

References

hackerone.com/reports/593911 WEB
https://hackerone.com/reports/593911
www.npmjs.com/advisories/1144 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1144

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf?
GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf is a security vulnerability in Public involving Path Traversal in public under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
Which Public versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: public.
What version fixes GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is public affected?
Yes, public is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf?
GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.).
How can I check npm dependencies for GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls public'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-4vvp-x9h2-x2vf",
  "modified" : "2020-08-31T18:48:53Z",
  "published" : "2020-09-03T20:26:39Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "Path Traversal in public",
  "details" : "All versions of `public` are vulnerable to Path Traversal. This vulnerability allows an attacker to access files outside the webroot since it allows symlink navigation in the URL.\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nNo fix is currently available. Do not use `public` in production or consider using an alternative module until a fix is made available.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "public"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://hackerone.com/reports/593911"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1144"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-08-31T18:48:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}