CWEweakness

CWE-35 Path Traversal: '.../...//'

Official page ↗
Abstraction
Variant
Structure
Simple
Status
Incomplete
Languages
Not Language-Specific
CWE version
5.0

Description

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize '.../...//' (doubled triple dot slash) sequences that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory.

Common consequences

• Confidentiality, Integrity: Read Files or Directories, Modify Files or Directories, Bypass Protection Mechanism — Not properly neutralizing '.../...//' (doubled triple dot slash) allows attackers to traverse the file system to access files or directories that are outside of the restricted directory.

Potential mitigations

• [Implementation] Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does. When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue." Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright. When validating filenames, use stringent allowlists that limit the character set to be used. If feasible, only allow a single "." character in the filename to avoid weaknesses such as CWE-23, and exclude directory separators such as "/" to avoid CWE-36. Use a list of allowable file extensions, which will help to avoid CWE-434. Do not rely exclusively on a filtering mechanism that removes potentially dangerous characters. This is equivalent to a denylist, which may be incomplete (CWE-184). For example, filtering "/" is insufficient protection if the filesystem also supports the use of "\" as a directory separator. Another possible error could occur when the filtering is applied in a way that still produces dangerous data (CWE-182). For example, the ".../...//" manipulation is useful for bypassing some path traversal protection schemes. If "../" sequences are removed from the ".../...//" string in a sequential fashion (as some regular expression engines and other algorithms operate) the string can collapse into the unsafe "../" value (CWE-182). Removing the first "../" yields "....//" and the second removal yields "../". • [Implementation] Inputs should be decoded and canonicalized to the application's current internal representation before being validated (CWE-180). Make sure that the application does not decode the same input twice (CWE-174). Such errors could be used to bypass allowlist validation schemes by introducing dangerous inputs after they have been checked.

Detection methods

• Automated Static Analysis: Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)

Observed examples

• CVE-2005-2169: Chain: ".../...//" bypasses protection mechanism using regexp's that remove "../" resulting in collapse into an unsafe value "../" (CWE-182) and resultant path traversal. • CVE-2005-0202: ".../....///" bypasses regexp's that remove "./" and "../"

Related

Observed example · CVE (2)

  • CVE-2005-2169 Directory traversal vulnerability in source.php in Quick & Dirty PHPSource Printer 1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to read… vulnerability
  • CVE-2005-0202 Directory traversal vulnerability in the true_path function in private.py for Mailman 2.1.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to read… vulnerability

Child of · CWE (1)

  • CWE-23 Relative Path Traversal weakness

Referenced by CVE · weakness (192)

  • CVE-2026-118633 A path traversal vulnerability allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code as root in Sophos UTM (all versions)… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-44414 A vulnerability has been identified in Industrial Edge Cloud Device (IECD), Industrial Edge Device Kit - arm64 V1.10, Industrial Edge… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-44415 Affected systems do not properly restrict access to internal APIs and paths for authenticated users. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-5703 Path traversal vulnerability in the Satel Iberia SenNet Datalogger Serie 200, specifically in the web portal provided by the device, which… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-105683 Ghost is a Node.js content management system. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-103290 Ghost versions 6.14.0 through versions prior to 6.27.0 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the ImageSize service. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-82824 Hitachi Coding Software Suite contains a vulnerability related to Path Traversal vulnerability that allows an attacker to access, create,… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-97244 Contributor Path Traversal in Creator LMS <= 1.2.19 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-27557 An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit a path traversal vulnerability in the /index.php/view_uploaded_iodd_file endpoint allowing… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-85310 import_contacts Path Traversal in Groundhogg <= 4.7.1 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-21092 Path traversal in ImsService prior to SMR Sep-2026 Release 1 allows remote attackers to create image files with system server privilege. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-21103 Path traversal in GalaxyDiagnostics prior to SMR Sep-2026 Release 1 allows physical attackers to access files with system privilege. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-20513 In Audio HAL, there is a possible information disclosure due to improper input validation. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-56089 Dell ObjectScale, versions prior to 4.3.0.1, contain(s) a Path Traversal vulnerability. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-59909 Dell ObjectScale, versions prior to 4.3.0.1, contain(s) a Path Traversal vulnerability. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-28157 Subscriber Path Traversal in Do Lasso <= 358 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-13716 Path traversal in server import and admin file upload in Crafty Controller. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-69109 A vulnerability has been identified in Siemens License Server (SLS) (All versions < V5.3). vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-59115 '.../...//' in Microsoft Entra Provisioning Service (SyncFabric) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-66695 Unauthenticated Path Traversal in W3 Total Cache <= 2.10.2 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2025-59181 Ericsson Packet Core Controller (PCC) versions prior to 1.39 contain a directory traversal vulnerability in Configuration Management that… vulnerability
  • CVE-2025-60835 An issue in the unrar.dll component of IZArc v4.6 allows attackers to execute a path traversal. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-49779 Path Traversal: '.../...//' vulnerability in Addify Tax Exempt for WooCommerce allows Path Traversal. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-52707 Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion in Kastell <= 2.0 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-42661 Custom role Path Traversal in WP Customer Area <= 8.3.4 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-49112 Unauthenticated Path Traversal in Shared Files <= 1.7.64 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-52703 Unauthenticated Path Traversal in FastDup <= 2.7.2 versions. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-24315 SAP Fiori Launchpad allows attackers to craft malicious URLs that triggers arbitrary service calls on the Fiori domain, this when opened by… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-40128 SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java (Web Container) allows an unauthenticated attacker to craft a malicious HTTP logon request that… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-45661 Dokploy is a free, self-hostable Platform as a Service (PaaS). vulnerability
Show all 192 ›

Referenced by CWE · can precede (1)

  • CWE-182 Collapse of Data into Unsafe Value weakness

Referenced by OWASP · mapped cwe (1)

  • A01:2021 Broken Access Control Top 10 2021