# CVE-2022-28357: NATS nats-server allows directory traversal via unintended path to a management action

> An attacker with a management account can perform directory traversal to read or modify files on the NATS server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 25 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vpjc-4jcv-jc29, GO-2023-2066, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-28357

## What is CVE-2022-28357?

CVE-2022-28357 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 19 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

NATS nats-server 2.2.0 through 2.7.4 allows directory traversal because of an unintended path to a management action from a management account.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-28357?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/nats-io/nats-server and github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/nats-io/nats-server` | Go | All versions | None |
| `github.com/nats-io/nats-server` | Go | From 2.2.0 | 2.7.4 |
| `github.com/nats-io/nats-server` | Go | From 2.2.0 | 2.7.4 |
| `github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2` | Go | From 2.2.0 | 2.7.4 |

Products: Linuxfoundation Nats-Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-28357?

Upgrade github.com/nats-io/nats-server to 2.7.4 or later.

## Is CVE-2022-28357 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-28357 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2026-58253](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-58253/): NATS Server: Route API Auth Bypass (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-24450](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24450/): Incorrect Authorization in NATS nats-server (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-33216](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33216/): NATS has MQTT plaintext password disclosure (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2026-58207](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-58207/): NATS Server: Remote crash via integer overflow in Connz pagination (high 7.7)
- [CVE-2026-58210](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-58210/): NATS Server: MQTT partial CONNECT packets can exhaust pre-auth memory (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-28357 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-28357 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 19 Sep 2023. 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-2022-28357 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server (Go): affected from 2.2.0; fixed in 2.7.4
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server (Go): affected from 2.2.0; fixed in 2.7.4
- github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 (Go): affected from 2.2.0; fixed in 2.7.4

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-2022-28357/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-28357/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-28357
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-28357
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-28357

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-28357/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.