# CVE-2021-23357: Directory Traversal

> Attackers can delete arbitrary JSON files on the server via the management API, potentially causing data loss or service disruption.

- **Severity:** Low 3.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Mar 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3qx7-r2pf-8cwr

## What is CVE-2021-23357?

CVE-2021-23357 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in github.com/TykTechnologies/tyk/gateway, published on 15 Mar 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

All versions of package github.com/tyktechnologies/tyk/gateway are vulnerable to Directory Traversal via the handleAddOrUpdateApi function. This function is able to delete arbitrary JSON files on the disk where Tyk is running via the management API. The APIID is provided by the user and this value is then used to create a file on disk. If there is a file found with the same name then it will be deleted and then re-created with the contents of the API creation request.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-23357?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Tyk Tyk.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-23357?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-23357 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-23357 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23357 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in github.com/TykTechnologies/tyk/gateway

- [CVE-2023-42283](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42283/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-42284](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42284/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-23357 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-23357 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in github.com/TykTechnologies/tyk/gateway, published on 15 Mar 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23357 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: github.com/TykTechnologies/tyk/gateway. 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-2021-23357/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23357/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-23357
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23357
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-23357

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23357/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.