CVE-2023-4897 in anything-llm
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2023
Relative Path Traversal in GitHub repository mintplex-labs/anything-llm prior to 0.0.1.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2026
This vulnerability involves a relative path traversal issue discovered in the mintplex-labs/anything-llm repository before version 0.0.1, representing a critical security flaw that allows unauthorized access to files outside the intended directory scope. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's file handling mechanisms, particularly when processing user-supplied paths or file references. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that leverages directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to access files in parent directories, potentially leading to sensitive data exposure, privilege escalation, or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability typically occurs when the application directly uses user-provided input to construct file paths without proper validation or normalization. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, also known as path traversal or directory traversal. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass access controls and retrieve files that should remain restricted, including configuration files, database credentials, source code, or other sensitive artifacts stored on the server.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations deploying the anything-llm application, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including web interface manipulation, API endpoint abuse, or direct parameter injection. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise, as attackers may access system files, configuration data, or application secrets that could facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the application runs with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive data repositories, as it could enable attackers to escalate their privileges or gain unauthorized access to critical system components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization measures, including canonicalization of file paths, strict validation of user-supplied inputs, and enforcement of proper access controls. Organizations should implement a whitelist approach for file operations, ensuring that only explicitly allowed paths or files can be accessed through the application. Additionally, the application should be updated to version 0.0.1 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper path validation and sanitization techniques. Security best practices recommend implementing the principle of least privilege, restricting file system access to only necessary directories, and regularly auditing file access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for credential access through the potential for privilege escalation and data exfiltration that such path traversal vulnerabilities enable.