Apache Commons VFS up to 2.9.x FileObject API resolveFile Scope path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Apache Commons VFS up to 2.9.x. The impacted element is the function resolveFile of the component FileObject API. The manipulation of the argument Scope results in path traversal. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-27553. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache Commons VFS up to 2.9.x. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function resolveFile of the component FileObject API. The manipulation of the argument scope with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-23. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

Relative Path Traversal vulnerability in Apache Commons VFS before 2.10.0. The FileObject API in Commons VFS has a 'resolveFile' method that takes a 'scope' parameter. Specifying 'NameScope.DESCENDENT' promises that "an exception is thrown if the resolved file is not a descendent of the base file". However, when the path contains encoded ".." characters (for example, "%2E%2E/bar.txt"), it might return file objects that are not a descendent of the base file, without throwing an exception. This issue affects Apache Commons VFS: before 2.10.0. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.10.0, which fixes the issue.

The weakness was shared by Arnout Engelen. The advisory is available at lists.apache.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-27553 since 03/01/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1006 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 233401 (openSUSE 15 Security Update : apache-commons-vfs2 (SUSE-SU-2025:1022-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 2.10.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (233401). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• Commons VFS

Version

• 2.0
• 2.1
• 2.2
• 2.3
• 2.4
• 2.5
• 2.6
• 2.7
• 2.8
• 2.9

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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