# CVE-2017-18196: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can bypass file restrictions in Leptonica by exploiting path duplication in /tmp subdirectories to access or modify unintended files.

- **Severity:** Low 3.3 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Feb 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-18196, GHSA-m7cf-9jqx-8xrq, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-18196

## What is CVE-2017-18196?

CVE-2017-18196 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Feb 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Leptonica 1.74.4 constructs unintended pathnames (containing duplicated path components) when operating on files in /tmp subdirectories, which might allow local users to bypass intended file restrictions by leveraging access to a directory located deeper within the /tmp directory tree, as demonstrated by /tmp/ANY/PATH/ANY/PATH/input.tif.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-18196?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Leptonica Leptonica.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-18196?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-18196 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-18196 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2018-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7247/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-7442](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7442/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2018-7441](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7441/): Race condition in n/a (high 7.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-18196 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-18196 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Feb 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-18196 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2017-18196/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-18196/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-18196
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-18196
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-18196

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-18196/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.