CVE-2022-31537
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to read arbitrary files on the server by exploiting path traversal in the Flask send_file function. It affects anyone running the jmcginty15/Solar-system-simulator repository through July 26, 2021. The high CVSS score reflects the potential for sensitive file disclosure.
💻 Affected Systems
- jmcginty15/Solar-system-simulator
📦 What is this software?
Solar System Simulator by Solar System Simulator Project
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete server compromise through reading sensitive files like SSH keys, configuration files, or database credentials, potentially leading to lateral movement or data exfiltration.
Likely Case
Unauthorized reading of sensitive server files including application source code, configuration files, and potentially user data stored on the filesystem.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper file permissions and network segmentation, though sensitive files could still be exposed if accessible to the web server user.
🎯 Exploit Status
Path traversal vulnerabilities are well-understood and easily weaponized with simple HTTP requests.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 2021-07-26
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/github/securitylab/issues/669
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to the latest version of the repository. 2. Replace vulnerable send_file calls with safe implementations. 3. Restart the Flask application.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation
allImplement strict input validation to reject path traversal sequences
Web Application Firewall
allDeploy WAF rules to block path traversal patterns
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file system permissions to limit web server user access
- Deploy network segmentation to isolate vulnerable systems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Review Flask route handlers for unsafe send_file usage with user-controlled inputCheck Version:
Check repository commit history or version metadataVerify Fix Applied:
Test path traversal attempts against updated endpoints📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing '../' sequences
- Unusual file access patterns from web endpoints
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests attempting directory traversal
SIEM Query:
web.url:*../* AND (response.status:200 OR response.status:403)