CVE-2012-3521: Geshi/geshi Path Traversal Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fw3x-2pr2-5j64
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CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-3521 is a HIGH path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Geshi/geshi libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves geshi vulnerable to directory traversal. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.0.8.11.

CVE-2012-3521 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-3521
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fw3x-2pr2-5j64
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Geshi/geshi
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-3521

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

geshi/geshi fixed: 1.0.8.11 
Upgrade geshi/geshi to 1.0.8.11
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

inspect dependencies for geshi/geshi

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2012-3521, inspect your project dependencies for Geshi/geshi:

inspect dependencies for geshi/geshi

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Geshi/geshi in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.0.8.11), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

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 Geshi/geshi, 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

Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the cssgen contrib module in GeSHi before 1.0.8.11 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the (1) geshi-path or (2) geshi-lang-path parameter.

CVE-2012-3521 Affected Geshi/geshi Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.0.8.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
geshi/geshi
 Packagist
< 1.0.8.11
1.0.8.11

References

NVD — CVE-2012-3521 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3521
bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.c... WEB
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=685324
Geshi/geshi Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/GeSHi/geshi-1.0
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105247.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105273.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105317.html
sourceforge.net/p/geshi/code/2507 WEB
http://sourceforge.net/p/geshi/code/2507
Geshi/geshi Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/08/21/11

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-3521?
CVE-2012-3521 is a security vulnerability in Geshi/geshi involving GeSHi vulnerable to Directory Traversal under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
Which Geshi/geshi versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.0.8.11 across affected packages: geshi/geshi.
What version fixes CVE-2012-3521?
Upgrading to 1.0.8.11 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is geshi/geshi affected?
Yes, geshi/geshi is affected in releases prior to 1.0.8.11. Upgrade your dependency to 1.0.8.11 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-3521?
CVE-2012-3521 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 Packagist dependencies for CVE-2012-3521?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for geshi/geshi'. 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-fw3x-2pr2-5j64",
  "modified" : "2025-04-14T16:09:21Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T04:42:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-3521" ],
  "summary" : "GeSHi vulnerable to Directory Traversal",
  "details" : "Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the cssgen contrib module in GeSHi before 1.0.8.11 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the (1) geshi-path or (2) geshi-lang-path parameter.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "geshi/geshi"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.0.8.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3521"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=685324"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/GeSHi/geshi-1.0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105247.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105273.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2013-May/105317.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://sourceforge.net/p/geshi/code/2507"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/08/21/11"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-14T16:09:21Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-06-13T14:55:00Z"
  }
}