CVE-2025-27098 in graphql-mesh
Summary
by MITRE • 02/20/2025
GraphQL Mesh is a GraphQL Federation framework and gateway for both GraphQL Federation and non-GraphQL Federation subgraphs, non-GraphQL services, such as REST and gRPC, and also databases such as MongoDB, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. Missing check vulnerability in the static file handler allows any client to access the files in the server's file system. When `staticFiles` is set in the `serve` settings in the configuration file, the following handler doesn't check if `absolutePath` is still under the directory provided as `staticFiles`. Users have two options to fix vulnerability; 1. Update `@graphql-mesh/cli` to a version higher than `0.82.21`, and if you use `@graphql-mesh/http`, update it to a version higher than `0.3.18` 2. Remove `staticFiles` option from the configuration, and use other solutions to serve static files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-27098 affects GraphQL Mesh, a GraphQL Federation framework and gateway that serves as a unified interface for various data sources including GraphQL, REST, gRPC, and multiple database types. This security flaw resides in the static file handler component of the framework, creating a critical path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to server file systems. The issue manifests when the staticFiles configuration option is enabled within the serve settings, where the system fails to properly validate path boundaries during file serving operations.
The technical implementation flaw occurs in the static file serving mechanism where the absolutePath parameter is not properly validated against the configured staticFiles directory boundary. This missing validation check creates a directory traversal condition that enables attackers to access files beyond the intended static file directory. The vulnerability specifically impacts the serve configuration where staticFiles is defined, allowing malicious clients to craft requests that bypass the intended file system restrictions. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 - Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python, as attackers could potentially exploit this to access sensitive configuration files or application data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the ability to read arbitrary files from the server's file system, potentially exposing sensitive information such as database credentials, API keys, configuration files, and application source code. The vulnerability affects organizations using GraphQL Mesh with static file serving capabilities, particularly those running versions prior to the patched releases. Attackers could leverage this to gain unauthorized access to critical system information, leading to potential data breaches, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the leaked files might contain authentication tokens, encryption keys, or other sensitive data that could facilitate additional attacks.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2025-27098 provides two distinct approaches to address the vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves updating the affected packages to versions that contain the security fix, specifically requiring graphql-mesh/cli version 0.82.21 or higher and graphql-mesh/http version 0.3.18 or higher. This update approach ensures that the patched code properly validates absolutePath parameters against the configured staticFiles directory boundaries. Organizations should also verify their dependency trees to ensure all related packages are updated consistently to prevent potential bypasses or incomplete fixes. The alternative remediation strategy involves removing the staticFiles option from the configuration file and implementing alternative static file serving solutions, which eliminates the vulnerable code path entirely. This approach may require additional configuration changes to maintain the desired static file serving functionality, but provides a definitive mitigation for environments where immediate package updates are not feasible. Security teams should also implement monitoring for any suspicious file access patterns and consider implementing additional access controls or network segmentation to limit potential exploitation of this vulnerability.