CVE-2021-47921 in Free Photo & Video Vault
Summary
by MITRE • 02/01/2026
Free Photo & Video Vault 0.0.2 contains a directory traversal web vulnerability that allows remote attackers to manipulate application path requests and access sensitive system files. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability without privileges to retrieve environment variables and access unauthorized system paths.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-47921 resides within Free Photo & Video Vault version 0.0.2, a mobile application designed for storing and managing multimedia content. This particular flaw represents a critical directory traversal vulnerability that fundamentally compromises the application's security boundaries and exposes sensitive system resources to unauthorized access. The vulnerability manifests through the application's improper handling of file path requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and navigate to restricted system directories. The absence of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms allows attackers to manipulate path parameters through crafted requests that can traverse beyond the intended application scope.
This directory traversal vulnerability operates at the core of the application's file access mechanisms, where user-supplied path parameters are directly processed without adequate security checks. The flaw enables attackers to construct malicious path sequences that can access system files, configuration data, and potentially sensitive environment variables that should remain protected within the application's sandboxed environment. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication or elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone capable of interacting with the application's network interface. The technical implementation appears to lack proper path normalization and validation, allowing special characters such as '../' sequences to be processed directly without filtering or sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access, as it creates a potential pathway for attackers to extract sensitive information from the device's file system. Environment variables that contain configuration details, database connection strings, or other system-specific information could be exposed through this vulnerability, providing attackers with valuable intelligence for further exploitation. The vulnerability also potentially enables attackers to access application data, user credentials, or other sensitive information stored in directories outside the application's intended scope. This exposure creates a significant risk for users whose devices may be compromised, as the vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise or data exfiltration.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-22, which specifically addresses directory traversal attacks, and align it with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The lack of proper input validation and path sanitization directly correlates with the principles of secure coding practices outlined in industry standards and best practices. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, path normalization, and proper access controls to prevent unauthorized path traversal. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure application design principles and proper sandboxing mechanisms that should be implemented in mobile applications to prevent such cross-boundary access issues.
The remediation approach should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation that filters or rejects suspicious path sequences, proper path normalization that resolves relative paths to absolute locations, and strict access controls that prevent unauthorized system file access. Additionally, the application should implement proper error handling that does not expose system paths or sensitive information in error messages. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in mobile application development, particularly when dealing with file system operations and user-supplied data.