# CVE-2011-4596: OpenStack Nova Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities

> Authenticated users can overwrite arbitrary files via crafted tarballs or manifests when EC2 API and S3 image registration are enabled.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.0 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Dec 2011
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2011-4596, GHSA-qr62-r9xc-r2gj, PYSEC-2026-881

## What is CVE-2011-4596?

CVE-2011-4596 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Dec 2011. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in OpenStack Nova before 2011.3.1, when the EC2 API and the S3/RegisterImage image-registration method are enabled, allow remote authenticated users to overwrite arbitrary files via a crafted (1) tarball or (2) manifest.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-4596?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including nova. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `nova` | PyPI | All versions | 12.0.0a0 |
| `nova` | PyPI | All versions | 12.0.0a0 |
| `nova` | PyPI | All versions | 12.0.0a0 |

Products: Openstack Nova.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-4596?

Upgrade nova to 12.0.0a0 or later.

## Is CVE-2011-4596 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-4596 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2017-7214](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7214/): OpenStack Nova logs sensitive context from notification exceptions (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-17051](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17051/): OpenStack Nova DoS by rebuilding the same instance with a new image multiple times (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2020-17376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17376/): OpenStack Nova Live migration fails to update persistent domain XML (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2017-18191](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-18191/): OpenStack Nova Denial of service attack on the compute host (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2015-3280](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3280/): OpenStack Compute (nova) allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-4596 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-4596 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Dec 2011. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-4596 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- nova (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 12.0.0a0
- nova (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 12.0.0a0
- nova (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 12.0.0a0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4596/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4596/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4596
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4596
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-4596

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4596/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.