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CVE-2018-7442: Leptonica: Path traversal

CVE-2018-7442 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.1 and affects Leptonica. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction.

Vulnerability description

An issue was discovered in Leptonica through 1.75.3. The gplotMakeOutput function does not block '/' characters in the gplot rootname argument, potentially leading to path traversal and arbitrary file overwrite.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.0 9.1: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: None. No effect on availability.

Underlying weakness

CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

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.

Affected products

  • Leptonica: up to and including 1.75.3

References