# CVE-2020-8144: Path traversal in UniFi Video Controller (for Windows 7/8/10 x64)

> Attackers can manipulate firmware update paths to write files outside the intended directory, potentially leading to arbitrary file write or code execution.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Apr 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8vc5-gg9h-3rv8

## What is CVE-2020-8144?

CVE-2020-8144 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in UniFi Video Controller (for Windows 7/8/10 x64), published on 1 Apr 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The UniFi Video Server v3.9.3 and prior (for Windows 7/8/10 x64) web interface Firmware Update functionality, under certain circumstances, does not validate firmware download destinations to ensure they are within the intended destination directory tree. It accepts a request with a URL to firmware update information. If the version field contains ..\ character sequences, the destination file path to save the firmware can be manipulated to be outside the intended destination directory tree. Fixed in UniFi Video Controller v3.10.3 and newer.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-8144?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ui Unifi Video.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-8144?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-8144 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-8144 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-8144 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in UniFi Video Controller (for Windows 7/8/10 x64)

- [CVE-2019-5430](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5430/): Cross-site request forgery in UniFi Video Server (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-24755](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-24755/): Other in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-8146](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8146/): Privilege escalation in UniFi Video Controller (for Windows 7/8/10 x64) (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2016-6914](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6914/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-8145](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8145/): Missing authorization in UniFi Video Controller (for Windows 7/8/10 x64) (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-8144 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-8144 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in UniFi Video Controller (for Windows 7/8/10 x64), published on 1 Apr 2020. 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-2020-8144 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: UniFi Video Controller (for Windows 7/8/10 x64). 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-2020-8144/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8144/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8144
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8144
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-8144

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8144/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.