65
Nature Type ID Name Page
MemberOf 981 SFP Secondary Cluster: Path Traversal 888 2409
MemberOf 1404 Comprehensive Categorization: File Handling 1400 2529
Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy Name Node ID Fit Mapped Node Name
PLOVER 7 - '\directory\..\filename
Software Fault Patterns SFP16 Path Traversal
CWE-31: Path Traversal: 'dir\..\..\filename'
Weakness ID : 31
Structure : Simple
Abstraction : Variant
Description
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted
directory, but it does not properly neutralize 'dir\..\..\filename' (multiple internal backslash dot dot)
sequences that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory.
Extended Description
This allows attackers to traverse the file system to access files or directories that are outside of the
restricted directory.
The 'dir\..\..\filename' manipulation is useful for bypassing some path traversal protection schemes.
Sometimes a program only removes one "..\" sequence, so multiple "..\" can bypass that check.
Alternately, this manipulation could be used to bypass a check for "..\" at the beginning of the
pathname, moving up more than one directory level.
Relationships
The table(s) below shows the weaknesses and high level categories that are related to this
weakness. These relationships are defined as ChildOf, ParentOf, MemberOr and give insight to
similar items that may exist at higher and lower levels of abstraction. In addition, relationships such
as PeerOf and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar weaknesses that may want to be explored.
Relevant to the view "Research Concepts" (CWE-1000)
Nature Type ID Name Page
ChildOf 23 Relative Path Traversal 46
Applicable Platforms
Language : Not Language-Specific (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Operating_System : Windows (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Common Consequences
Scope Impact Likelihood
Confidentiality
Integrity
Read Files or Directories
Modify Files or Directories
Potential Mitigations
Phase: Implementation
Strategy = Input Validation
CWE Version 4.14
CWE-31: Path Traversal: 'dir\..\..\filename'
CWE-31: Path Traversal: 'dir\..\..\filename'