# CVE-2023-24815: Disclosure of classpath resources on Windows when mounted on a wildcard route in vertx-web

> Attackers can exfiltrate classpath resources on Windows deployments using wildcard routes due to improper path validation in Vert.x Web.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 9 Feb 2023
- **Updated:** 10 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-53jx-vvf9-4x38

## What is CVE-2023-24815?

CVE-2023-24815 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in vert-x3 vertx-web, published on 9 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Vert.x-Web is a set of building blocks for building web applications in the java programming language. When running vertx web applications that serve files using `StaticHandler` on Windows Operating Systems and Windows File Systems, if the mount point is a wildcard (`*`) then an attacker can exfiltrate any class path resource. When computing the relative path to locate the resource, in case of wildcards, the code: `return "/" + rest;` from `Utils.java` returns the user input (without validation) as the segment to lookup. Even though checks are performed to avoid escaping the sandbox, given that the input was not sanitized `\` are not properly handled and an attacker can build a path that is valid within the classpath. This issue only affects users deploying in windows environments and upgrading is the advised remediation path. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-24815?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `io.vertx:vertx-web` | Maven | From 4.0.0 | 4.3.8 |
| `io.vertx:vertx-web` | Maven | From 4.0.0 | 4.3.8 |

Products: Eclipse Vert.x-Web.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-24815?

Upgrade io.vertx:vertx-web to 4.3.8 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-24815 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-24815 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in vert-x3 vertx-web

- [CVE-2020-35217](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35217/): Cross-Site Request Forgery in Vert.x-Web framework (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-1002](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-1002/): Eclipse Vert.x Web static handler file access denial (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-24815 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-24815 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in vert-x3 vertx-web, published on 9 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-24815 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- io.vertx:vertx-web (Maven): affected from 4.0.0; fixed in 4.3.8
- io.vertx:vertx-web (Maven): affected from 4.0.0; fixed in 4.3.8

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-2023-24815/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24815/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-24815
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-24815
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-24815

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24815/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.