# CVE-2018-13864: Play Framework's Assets controller vulnerable to directory traversal

> Remote attackers can download arbitrary files from Windows servers running Play Framework via directory traversal in the Assets controller.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Jul 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v4mq-p756-p4f5

## What is CVE-2018-13864?

CVE-2018-13864 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A directory traversal vulnerability has been found in the Assets controller in Play Framework 2.6.12 through 2.6.15 (fixed in 2.6.16) when running on Windows. It allows a remote attacker to download arbitrary files from the target server via specially crafted HTTP requests.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-13864?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including com.typesafe.play:play_2.12. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `com.typesafe.play:play_2.12` | Maven | From 2.6.12 | 2.6.16 |
| `com.typesafe.play:play_2.12` | Maven | From 2.6.12 | 2.6.16 |

Products: Lightbend Play Framework.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-13864?

Upgrade com.typesafe.play:play_2.12 to 2.6.16 or later.

## Is CVE-2018-13864 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-13864 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/tafamace/CVE-2018-13864 (github_poc): https://github.com/tafamace/CVE-2018-13864

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2014-3630](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3630/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-31018](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-31018/): Denial of service binding form from JSON in Play Framework (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-26882](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-26882/): Data Amplification in Play Framework (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-26883](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-26883/): Uncontrolled Recursion in Play Framework (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-27196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27196/): Out-of-bounds Write in Play Framework (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-13864 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-13864 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-13864 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- com.typesafe.play:play_2.12 (Maven): affected from 2.6.12; fixed in 2.6.16
- com.typesafe.play:play_2.12 (Maven): affected from 2.6.12; fixed in 2.6.16

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-2018-13864/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-13864/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-13864
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-13864
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-13864

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-13864/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.