CVE-2026-108603 in slide-maker
Summary
by MITRE • 10/10/2026
slide-maker through 5.8.0 contains a path traversal vulnerability in generate_images_openai.py that allows attackers to write image files outside the output directory via manifest-supplied filenames. Attackers can influence deck source material so the image prompt manifest contains ../ or symlinked filenames, creating directories and overwriting existing files at arbitrary paths.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2026
The software known as slide-maker, specifically in versions up through 5.8.0, suffers from a critical path traversal vulnerability located within its generate_images_openai.py module. This flaw arises because the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate filenames provided by users during the image generation process. When an attacker influences the deck source material, they can manipulate the image prompt manifest to include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or references to symbolic links. Because the underlying system processes these inputs without restricting them to a designated output directory, it allows for arbitrary file writes outside of the intended scope. This lack of input validation is a fundamental design error that undermines the security boundary between user-controlled data and the server's filesystem structure.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The core issue lies in the failure to canonicalize or strictly check file paths before writing operations are executed. By injecting ../ sequences into the manifest-supplied filenames, an attacker can navigate up the directory tree from the intended output location. This capability enables the creation of new directories and the overwriting of existing files at arbitrary absolute paths on the host system. If symbolic links are involved, the risk is further amplified because a symlink can point to sensitive configuration files or executable binaries, effectively allowing the vulnerability to be leveraged for more severe outcomes than simple file overwrite.
The operational impact of this flaw extends beyond mere data corruption. An attacker who successfully exploits this path traversal vulnerability could potentially achieve remote code execution if they manage to overwrite critical system files, such as shell scripts, configuration files with executable permissions, or even binary executables within the application's runtime environment. Furthermore, overwriting existing files can lead to denial of service conditions by corrupting essential data structures required for the slide generation process. In environments where multiple users share file systems, this vulnerability could also be used to read sensitive information from other directories if write access is combined with subsequent read operations or if the overwritten content influences future application behavior in a malicious way.
This type of attack vector is consistent with techniques observed in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under Tactic TA0003: Persistence and TA0004: Privilege Escalation. The ability to write files outside restricted directories can be used for persistence by placing backdoors or malicious scripts that are executed during system startup or application restarts. Additionally, if the application runs with elevated privileges, overwriting system binaries could facilitate privilege escalation. Security professionals should recognize this as a classic example of insufficient input validation leading to file manipulation risks, which is prevalent in applications handling user-generated content for automated processing tasks.
To mitigate this vulnerability, developers must implement strict path canonicalization and validation mechanisms before any file write operations are performed. The application should resolve the full absolute path of the intended output file and verify that it resides within a predefined whitelist directory. Any attempt to traverse outside this boundary using ../ sequences or symbolic links pointing elsewhere should be rejected immediately with an appropriate error message. Additionally, employing least privilege principles by running the image generation service in a sandboxed environment with restricted filesystem access can limit the blast radius of such exploits. Regular security audits and static code analysis focused on file I/O operations are recommended to detect similar flaws across other modules within the slide-maker application suite.