# CVE-2024-40445: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can read or append arbitrary files on Windows systems via crafted input paths in the Mime TeX library.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Apr 2025
- **Updated:** 30 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4qhj-jmx7-8mr8

## What is CVE-2024-40445?

CVE-2024-40445 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Apr 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A directory traversal vulnerability in forkosh Mime TeX before version 1.77 allows attackers on Windows systems to read or append arbitrary files by manipulating crafted input paths.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-40445?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ctan Mimetex.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-40445?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-40445 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-40445 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-40445 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- This repository serves as the public reference for CVE-2024-40445 and CVE-2024-40446. Both vulnerabilities impact MimeTeX, an open-source software package for rendering LaTeX expressions, which appears to be no longer maintained. (github_poc): https://github.com/TaiYou-TW/CVE-2024-40445_CVE-2024-40446

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2024-40446](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40446/): An issue in forkosh Mime Tex before v.1.77 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via a crafted script (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-40445 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-40445 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Apr 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-40445 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2024-40445/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40445/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-40445
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-40445
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-40445

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40445/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.