# CVE-2022-38179: JetBrains Ktor before 2.1.0 was vulnerable to a Reflect File Download attack

> Attackers can exploit a path traversal vulnerability in JetBrains Ktor to read arbitrary files from the server.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Aug 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v866-gwf5-w92f

## What is CVE-2022-38179?

CVE-2022-38179 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in JetBrains Ktor, published on 12 Aug 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

JetBrains Ktor before 2.1.0 was vulnerable to the Reflect File Download attack

Weakness: CWE-697 (Incorrect Comparison), CWE-184 (Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-38179?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including io.ktor:ktor. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `io.ktor:ktor` | Maven | All versions | 2.1.0 |
| `io.ktor:ktor` | Maven | All versions | 2.1.0 |

Products: Jetbrains Ktor.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-38179?

Upgrade io.ktor:ktor to 2.1.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2022-38179 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-38179 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in JetBrains Ktor

- [CVE-2019-12736](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12736/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-29930](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29930/): SHA1 implementation in JetBrains Ktor Native 2.0.0 was returning the same value. (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2023-45612](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45612/): XML external entity in Ktor (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2022-48476](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-48476/): Path traversal in Ktor (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2021-43203](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43203/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-38179 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-38179 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in JetBrains Ktor, published on 12 Aug 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-38179 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- io.ktor:ktor (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.1.0
- io.ktor:ktor (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.1.0

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-2022-38179/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38179/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-38179
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-38179
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38179

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38179/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.