CVE-2022-31545
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to read arbitrary files on the server through absolute path traversal in the ml-inory/ModelConverter repository. It affects any system running this software with the vulnerable Flask send_file implementation. The high CVSS score reflects the potential for sensitive data exposure.
💻 Affected Systems
- ml-inory/ModelConverter
📦 What is this software?
Modelconverter by Modelconverter Project
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete server compromise through reading sensitive files like /etc/passwd, SSH keys, or configuration files containing credentials, potentially leading to lateral movement.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to sensitive files on the server, including source code, configuration files, and potentially user data.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper file system permissions and network segmentation preventing access to critical system files.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability is well-documented in GitHub security advisories with proof-of-concept details available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 2021-04-26
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/github/securitylab/issues/669
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to the latest version of ml-inory/ModelConverter repository. 2. Replace vulnerable Flask send_file calls with secure implementations. 3. Restart the application service.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation and Sanitization
allImplement strict input validation to reject absolute paths and directory traversal sequences
Web Application Firewall Rules
allConfigure WAF to block requests containing path traversal patterns like '../' or absolute paths
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file system permissions to limit application access to only necessary directories
- Deploy network segmentation to isolate vulnerable systems from sensitive data stores
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Review Flask send_file usage in the application code for unsafe path handling without validationCheck Version:
Check repository commit history or version metadata to confirm it's newer than 2021-04-26Verify Fix Applied:
Test that absolute path traversal attempts are properly rejected and return appropriate error responses📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing absolute paths or directory traversal sequences
- Unusual file access patterns from web application user
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with suspicious path parameters attempting to access system files
SIEM Query:
web_access_logs WHERE url CONTAINS '/etc/' OR url CONTAINS '../' OR url CONTAINS 'C:\'