# CVE-2020-15246: Local File Inclusion by unauthenticated users

> Unauthenticated attackers can read local files on October CMS servers via crafted requests, exposing sensitive data.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 23 Nov 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xwjr-6fj7-fc6h

## What is CVE-2020-15246?

CVE-2020-15246 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 23 Nov 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

October is a free, open-source, self-hosted CMS platform based on the Laravel PHP Framework. In October CMS from version 1.0.421 and before version 1.0.469, an attacker can read local files on an October CMS server via a specially crafted request. Issue has been patched in Build 469 (v1.0.469) and v1.1.0.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-15246?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including october/cms. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `october/cms` | Packagist | From 1.0.421 | 1.0.469 |
| `october/cms` | Packagist | From 1.0.421 | 1.0.469 |

Products: Octobercms October.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-15246?

Upgrade october/cms to 1.0.469 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-15246 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-15246 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Octobercms October

- [CVE-2021-32648](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32648/): October CMS Improper Authentication (high 8.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-3311](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3311/): October CMS Session ID not invalidated after logout (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000194](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000194/): October CMS File Upload Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000196/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000197](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000197/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-15246 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-15246 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 23 Nov 2020. 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-2020-15246 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- october/cms (Packagist): affected from 1.0.421; fixed in 1.0.469
- october/cms (Packagist): affected from 1.0.421; fixed in 1.0.469

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-2020-15246/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15246/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15246
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15246
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-15246

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15246/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.