Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2024-56198: path-sanitizer allows bypassing the existing filters to achieve path-traversal vulnerability
path-sanitizer is a simple lightweight npm package for sanitizing paths to prevent Path Traversal.
CVSS 9.3 Critical EPSS 0.7% · p54
Should you act?
Critical and remotely reachable
No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Not in CISA KEV, but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 0.7%, percentile 54: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 54% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
path-sanitizer(npm) < 3.1.0, fixed in 3.1.0. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
path-sanitizer is a simple lightweight npm package for sanitizing paths to prevent Path Traversal. Prior to 3.1.0, the filters can be bypassed using .=%5c which results in a path traversal. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.1.0.
From the GitHub advisory
Summary This is a POC for a path-sanitizer npm package. The filters can be bypassed and can result in path traversal.
Payload: ..=%5c can be used to bypass this on CLI (along with other candidates). Something similar would likely work on web apps as well.
PoC Here's the code to test for the filter bypass:
Here is a video POC: (this is a Loom POC, only users with the UUID of the video can see it)
https://www.loom.com/share/b766ece5193842848ce7562fcd559256?sid=fd826eb6-0eee-4601-bf0e-9cfee5c56e9d
Weakness type: CWE-22.
Product: path-sanitizer (npm) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2024-12-31
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | path-sanitizer | < 3.1.0 | 3.1.0 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| cabraviva | path-sanitizer | < 3.1.0 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub_M | 4.0 | 9.3 Critical | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| GitHub | 4.0 | 9.3 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Attack requirements: none
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.74% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 54.
Timeline
- — CVE record last updated
- — CVE record published by GitHub_M
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-94p5-r7cc-3rpr published (critical)
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-94p5-r7cc-3rpr github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2024-56198 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2024-56198 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- github.com github.com
- github.com github.com
- loom.com loom.com