Path Traversal in starlette (CVE-2023-29159)
Summary
Path traversal in starlette (CVE-2023-29159). Risk of unauthorized operations or information disclosure. Exploitable via StaticFiles. Mitigation: upgrade to 0.27.0 or later.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
Summary
When using StaticFiles, if there's a file or directory that starts with the same name as the StaticFiles directory, that file or directory is also exposed via StaticFiles which is a path traversal vulnerability.
Details
The root cause of this issue is the usage of os.path.commonprefix():
https://github.com/encode/starlette/blob/4bab981d9e870f6cee1bd4cd59b87ddaf355b2dc/starlette/staticfiles.py#L172-L174
As stated in the Python documentation (https://docs.python.org/3/library/os.path.html#os.path.commonprefix) this function returns the longest prefix common to paths.
When passing a path like /static/../static1.txt, os.path.commonprefix([full_path, directory]) returns ./static which is the common part of ./static1.txt and ./static, It refers to /static/../static1.txt because it is considered in the staticfiles directory. As a result, it becomes possible to view files that should not be open to the public.
The solution is to use os.path.commonpath as the Python documentation explains that os.path.commonprefix works a character at a time, it does not treat the arguments as paths.
PoC
In order to reproduce the issue, you need to create the following structure:
├── static
│ ├── index.html
├── static_disallow
│ ├── index.html
└── static1.txt
And run the Starlette app with:
import uvicorn
from starlette.applications import Starlette
from starlette.routing import Mount
from starlette.staticfiles import StaticFiles…
Source: OSV.dev (Open Source Vulnerabilities) NVD GitHub Advisory OSV
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-29159 has been found in starlette.
Attackers can target a specific entry point like StaticFiles over the network to misuse the product.
Risk of unauthorized operations or information disclosure.
What to do: upgrade starlette to 0.27.0 or later.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "starlette CVE-2023-29159" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2023-29159 (starlette) — CWE-22
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Attack surface: StaticFiles / os.path.commonpath / os.path.commonprefix / Starlette
Patched: 0.27.0 — apply immediately
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Path traversal (CWE-22) exists in starlette. Attackers reach the vulnerable code path via StaticFiles without authentication.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of starlette. Attack surface: StaticFiles / os.path.commonpath / os.path.commonprefix / Starlette.
Severity: ?. Risk of unauthorized operations or information disclosure.
Update to 0.27.0.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'starlette' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'starlette' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
starletteを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Apply patch patch
Upgrade starlette to 0.27.0ステージング環境で 0.27.0 に上げて回帰テスト → 本番反映。回帰テストはアプリの主要ハッピーパスを含めること。
-
3Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2023-29159 starlette
References
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package github.com
- web github.com
- web github.com
- web github.com
- web github.com
- web github.com
- web jvn.jp