# CVE-2018-12909: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can read arbitrary local files via path traversal in Webgrind, though the vendor states it is not for public use.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 27 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fp34-qqcc-2392

## What is CVE-2018-12909?

CVE-2018-12909 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 27 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Webgrind 1.5 relies on user input to display a file, which lets anyone view files from the local filesystem (that the webserver user has access to) via an index.php?op=fileviewer&file= URI. NOTE: the vendor indicates that the product is not intended for a "publicly accessible environment.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-12909?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Webgrind Project Webgrind.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-12909?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-12909 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-12909 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-12909 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Webgrind <= 1.5 - Local File Inclusion (nuclei): http/cves/2018/CVE-2018-12909.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-54339](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-54339/): Webgrind 1.1 - Remote Command Execution (RCE) via dataFile Parameter (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2023-54341](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-54341/): Webgrind 1.1 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) via file Parameter (medium 5.1)
- [CVE-2012-1790](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1790/): Path traversal in n/a (medium 5.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-12909 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-12909 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 27 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-12909 exists.

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-2018-12909/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12909/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12909
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12909
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-12909

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12909/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.