# CVE-2023-39916: Possible path traversal when storing RRDP responses

> Attackers can write files outside the intended directory via crafted URLs when the optional RRDP response storage feature is enabled.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** 13 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 3 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5rxf-fqch-7vqp

## What is CVE-2023-39916?

CVE-2023-39916 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in NLnet Labs Routinator, published on 13 Sep 2023. 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

NLnet Labs’ Routinator 0.9.0 up to and including 0.12.1 as well as 0.14.0 up to and including 0.14.2 contains a possible path traversal vulnerability in the optional, off-by-default keep-rrdp-responses feature that allows users to store the content of responses received for RRDP requests. The location of these stored responses is constructed from the URL of the request. Due to insufficient sanitation of the URL, it is possible for an attacker to craft a URL that results in the response being stored outside of the directory specified for it.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-35 (Path Traversal: '.../...//')

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-39916?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including routinator. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `routinator` | crates.io | From 0.9.0 | 0.12.2 |
| `routinator` | crates.io | From 0.9.0 | 0.12.2 |

Products: Nlnetlabs Routinator.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-39916?

Upgrade routinator to 0.12.2 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-39916 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-39916 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in NLnet Labs Routinator

- [CVE-2026-49235](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49235/): Routinator crashes on specifically crafted RRDP XML files (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2026-49233](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49233/): Routinator cache path traversal using rogue rsync URIs (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2026-49234](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49234/): Routinator crashes on specifically crafted ASN strings in the API (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2023-39915](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39915/): Crashes on parsing certain invalid RPKI objects (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2022-3029](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3029/): Fatal error on incorrect base64 data in RRDP (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-39916 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-39916 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in NLnet Labs Routinator, published on 13 Sep 2023. 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-2023-39916 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- routinator (crates.io): affected from 0.9.0; fixed in 0.12.2
- routinator (crates.io): affected from 0.9.0; fixed in 0.12.2

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-2023-39916/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39916/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-39916
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-39916
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-39916

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39916/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.