# CVE-2022-4572: UBI Reader UBIFS File output.py ubireader_extract_files path traversal

> Attackers can exploit a path traversal flaw in the UBI Reader library to read or write arbitrary files when processing malicious UBIFS images.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L`)
- **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:** 17 Dec 2022
- **Updated:** 15 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hc37-84v3-8gmq, PYSEC-2022-43016

## What is CVE-2022-4572?

CVE-2022-4572 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in unspecified UBI Reader, published on 17 Dec 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

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in UBI Reader up to 0.8.0. Affected by this issue is the function ubireader_extract_files of the file ubireader/ubifs/output.py of the component UBIFS File Handler. The manipulation leads to path traversal. The attack may be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 0.8.5 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is d5d68e6b1b9f7070c29df5f67fc060f579ae9139. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-216146 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-4572?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including ubi-reader. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `ubi-reader` | PyPI | All versions | 0.8.2 |
| `ubi-reader` | PyPI | All versions | 0.8.5 |
| `ubi-reader` | PyPI | All versions | 0.8.5 |

Products: Ubi Reader Project Ubi Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-4572?

Upgrade ubi-reader to a fixed version for your release line: 0.8.2 or 0.8.5.

## Is CVE-2022-4572 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-4572 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in unspecified UBI Reader

- [CVE-2023-0591](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0591/): Path Traversal in ubi_reader (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-4572 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-4572 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in unspecified UBI Reader, published on 17 Dec 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-2022-4572 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- ubi-reader (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.8.2
- ubi-reader (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.8.5
- ubi-reader (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 0.8.5

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-2022-4572/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4572/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-4572
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-4572
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-4572

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4572/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.