CVE-2022-44748 Uploading workflows to KNIME Server may override arbitrary file system contents

High 7.1 Published 24 Nov 2022 Updated 25 Apr 2025

Authenticated attackers can overwrite arbitrary server files via malicious ZIP uploads, potentially leading to data corruption or remote code execution.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2022-44748?

CVE-2022-44748 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in KNIME Server, published on 24 Nov 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A directory traversal vulnerability in the ZIP archive extraction routines of KNIME Server since 4.3.0 can result in arbitrary files being overwritten on the server's file system. This vulnerability is also known as 'Zip-Slip'.

An attacker can create a KNIME workflow that, when being uploaded, can overwrite arbitrary files that the operating system user running the KNIME Server process has write access to. The user must be authenticated and have permissions to upload files to KNIME Server.

This can impact data integrity (file contents are changed) or cause errors in other software (vital files being corrupted). It can even lead to remote code execution if executable files are being replaced and subsequently executed by the KNIME Server process user. In all cases the attacker has to know the location of files on the server's file system, though.

Note that users that have permissions to upload workflows usually also have permissions to run them on the KNIME Server and can therefore already execute arbitrary code in the context of the KNIME Executor's operating system user.

There is no workaround to prevent this vulnerability from being exploited. Updates to fixed versions 4.13.6, 4.14.3, or 4.15.3 are advised.

Weakness: CWE-22

Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-44748?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Knime Knime Server.

How do I fix CVE-2022-44748?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-44748 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is CVE-2022-44748 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-44748 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-29c9-qmhw-f6px.