# CVE-2024-10986: Local File Read (LFI) by Tarslip Symlink via arxiv_download() API in binary-husky/gpt_academic

> Attackers can read arbitrary local files on the server via symlink exploitation in the arxiv download function.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Mar 2025
- **Updated:** 15 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8q24-hc9h-h952

## What is CVE-2024-10986?

CVE-2024-10986 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in binary-husky/gpt_academic, published on 20 Mar 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

GPT Academic version 3.83 is vulnerable to a Local File Read (LFI) vulnerability through its HotReload function. This function can download and extract tar.gz files from arxiv.org. Despite implementing protections against path traversal, the application overlooks the Tarslip triggered by symlinks. This oversight allows attackers to read arbitrary local files from the victim server.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-10986?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Binary-Husky Gpt Academic.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-10986?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-10986 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-10986 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-10986 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in binary-husky/gpt_academic

- [CVE-2026-0763](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-0763/): GPT Academic run_in_subprocess_wrapper_func Deserialization of Untrusted Data Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-0764](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-0764/): GPT Academic upload Deserialization of Untrusted Data Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-31224](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-31224/): GPT Academic: Pickle deserializing cookies may pose RCE risk (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-10950](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-10950/): Code Injection in binary-husky/gpt_academic (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-10954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-10954/): Prompt Injection Leading to RCE in binary-husky/gpt_academic Plugin `manim` (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-10986 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-10986 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in binary-husky/gpt_academic, published on 20 Mar 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-10986 exists.

Affected product: binary-husky/gpt_academic. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2024-10986/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-10986/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-10986
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-10986
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-10986

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-10986/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.