# CVE-2018-19859: OpenRefine Directory Traversal

> Attackers can exploit directory traversal in OpenRefine via malicious ZIP archives to read or modify arbitrary files on the system.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **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:** 5 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f6fv-fjg8-4m6w

## What is CVE-2018-19859?

CVE-2018-19859 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Dec 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

OpenRefine before 3.2 beta allows directory traversal via a relative pathname in a ZIP archive.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-19859?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.openrefine:main. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.openrefine:main` | Maven | All versions | 3.2-beta |
| `org.openrefine:main` | Maven | All versions | 3.2-beta |

Products: Openrefine Openrefine.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-19859?

Upgrade org.openrefine:main to 3.2-beta or later.

## Is CVE-2018-19859 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-19859 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2018-19859 Remote Code Execution Proof of Concept (github_poc): https://github.com/WhiteOakSecurity/CVE-2018-19859

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-41887](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-41887/): Remote Code exec in project import with mysql jdbc url attack (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-47878](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47878/): Reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability (XSS) in GData extension (authorized.vt) (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-47880](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47880/): OpenRefine has a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability from POST request in ExportRowsCommand (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-47881](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47881/): OpenRefine's SQLite integration allows filesystem access, remote code execution (RCE) (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-47879](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47879/): OpenRefine's PreviewExpressionCommand, which is eval, lacks protection against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) (high 7.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-19859 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-19859 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Dec 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-19859 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.openrefine:main (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.2-beta
- org.openrefine:main (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.2-beta

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-2018-19859/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19859/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19859
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-19859
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-19859

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19859/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.