CVE-2022-31522 in karaokey
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2022
The NotVinay/karaokey repository through 2019-12-11 on GitHub allows absolute path traversal because the Flask send_file function is used unsafely.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-31522 resides within the NotVinay/karaokey repository, a project that appears to be a karaoke application or similar media handling system. This repository, as of its final commit on December 11, 2019, contained a critical security flaw that stems from improper implementation of file serving functionality. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the unsafe usage of the Flask send_file function, which is a core component of the Python web framework Flask used for serving files to users. This particular implementation flaw creates an environment where attackers can manipulate file access requests to traverse the filesystem beyond intended boundaries.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. When the Flask send_file function is invoked without proper input validation or path sanitization, it becomes susceptible to manipulation through specially crafted file paths that include absolute path references or directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\\. The vulnerable code likely accepts user-supplied parameters that directly influence the file path argument passed to send_file, enabling attackers to specify arbitrary file locations on the server filesystem. This unsafe implementation allows for unauthorized access to sensitive files that should remain protected within the application's intended directory structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker exploiting this flaw could potentially access confidential files including configuration files, database credentials, source code, log files, or even system-level files that contain sensitive information. The implications extend beyond simple information disclosure to potential system compromise, as attackers might gain access to files containing authentication tokens, encryption keys, or other critical system components. This vulnerability directly maps to several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 - File and Directory Discovery tactic, where adversaries attempt to enumerate files and directories to understand system structure. Additionally, it supports broader attack patterns related to privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental flaw in the application's file handling implementation. The primary recommendation involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters that influence file paths. This includes using whitelisting approaches where only predefined, safe file paths are permitted, or implementing robust path normalization and validation routines that reject any input containing traversal sequences. The Flask application should be updated to use secure file serving methods that properly validate and restrict file access to intended directories. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and least privilege principles, ensuring that the web application runs with minimal required permissions. Additionally, regular security code reviews and static analysis should be conducted to identify similar patterns in other parts of the codebase, as this vulnerability demonstrates a common pattern of insecure file handling that frequently appears in web applications. The remediation process should also include implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establishing comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to address potential data compromise.