# CVE-2024-38824: CVE-2024-38824 salt advisory

> An attacker can write arbitrary files to the master cache directory via a directory traversal vulnerability in the recv_file method.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Jun 2025
- **Updated:** 26 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8pcp-r83j-fc92, PYSEC-2026-529, UBUNTU-CVE-2024-38824

## What is CVE-2024-38824?

CVE-2024-38824 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Saltstack Salt, published on 13 Jun 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in recv_file method allows arbitrary files to be written to the master cache directory.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-38824?

5 open source packages ship an affected version, including salt. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 3006.0rc1 | 3006.12, 3007.4 |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 3006.0rc1 | 3006.12 |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 3006.0rc1 | 3006.12 |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 3007.0rc1 | 3007.4 |
| `salt` | PyPI | From 3007.0rc1 | 3007.4 |

Products: Saltstack Salt.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-38824?

Upgrade salt to a fixed version for your release line: 3006.12 or 3007.4.

## Is CVE-2024-38824 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-38824 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Saltstack Salt

- [CVE-2013-4437](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-4437/): SaltStack insecurely uses /tmp (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-6617](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6617/): SaltStack Privilege Escalation vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-33226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33226/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-25315](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-25315/): salt-api unauthenticated remote code execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-15751](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15751/): SaltStack Salt Remote command execution and incorrect access control when using salt-api (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-38824 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-38824 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Saltstack Salt, published on 13 Jun 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-38824 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- salt (PyPI): affected from 3006.0rc1; fixed in 3006.12, 3007.4
- salt (PyPI): affected from 3006.0rc1; fixed in 3006.12
- salt (PyPI): affected from 3006.0rc1; fixed in 3006.12
- salt (PyPI): affected from 3007.0rc1; fixed in 3007.4
- salt (PyPI): affected from 3007.0rc1; fixed in 3007.4

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-2024-38824/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38824/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-38824
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38824
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38824

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38824/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.