CVE-2025-9118 in Cloud Dataform
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2025
A path traversal vulnerability in the NPM package installation process of Google Cloud Dataform allows a remote attacker to read and write files in other customers' repositories via a maliciously crafted package.json file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw within the npm package installation mechanism of Google Cloud Dataform, a platform designed for data transformation and orchestration. The issue arises during the package resolution and installation phase where the system fails to properly validate file paths specified in package.json manifests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious package.json files that contain carefully constructed relative path references, allowing them to bypass normal access controls and traverse the filesystem to access or modify files outside of their intended scope. The vulnerability specifically impacts multi-tenant environments where multiple customers share the same infrastructure, creating a severe security risk as attackers can potentially access other customers' data repositories and configuration files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and path sanitization within the package installation pipeline. When Dataform processes package.json files, it does not adequately sanitize or canonicalize file paths, particularly those containing relative references such as ../ or ..\ sequences. This allows attackers to manipulate the installation process to target arbitrary locations on the filesystem, potentially leading to unauthorized file access, data exfiltration, or even remote code execution if the vulnerable system permits writing to critical locations. The flaw operates at the level of the package manager's dependency resolution process, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through legitimate package installation workflows that administrators expect to be secure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to perform lateral movement within shared infrastructure environments. In multi-tenant deployments, customers' repositories and sensitive configuration data could be accessed, modified, or deleted by malicious actors. The vulnerability also poses risks to system integrity, as attackers could potentially install malicious packages that execute arbitrary code on the target system. This type of attack could result in complete compromise of customer data, disruption of services, and potential regulatory violations for organizations handling sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly concerning in cloud environments where automated package installation processes are common and may not be properly monitored or restricted.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive path validation and sanitization mechanisms within the package installation process. Organizations should enforce strict input validation on all package.json files, particularly regarding path references and relative path sequences. The implementation of a robust sandboxing mechanism during package installation can prevent unauthorized filesystem access, while mandatory access controls should be enforced to limit file system operations to predefined safe directories. Regular security audits of package installation processes and monitoring for anomalous path traversal patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regularly update their systems to ensure the latest security patches are applied. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for potential exploitation paths.