@rhinostone/swig: arbitrary local file read via include/extends path traversal
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub.
Summary
### Overview `@rhinostone/swig` is a maintained fork of the abandoned `swig` template engine and inherited the directory-traversal vulnerability tracked upstream as CVE-2023-25345 / GHSA-2rq5-699j-x7p6. The `{% include %}`, `{% extends %}`, and `{% import %}` tags resolve their target path through the filesystem loader without confining the result to the configured template root. A path that traverses upward (`../`) escapes the root and reads an arbitrary file from the host filesystem, whose contents are emitted into the rendered output. ### Attack scenario The dangerous case does **not** require the attacker to control template source — only template **data** (the `locals` passed at render time). An application that renders a trusted template whose include / extends path is variable-driven is exposed: ```js // application code — a configured filesystem loader with a basepath swig.renderFile('page.html', { partial: req.query.partial }); ``` ``` {# page.html — trusted template #} {% include partial %} ``` Setting `?partial=../../../../etc/passwd` makes the loader resolve and read that file, and its contents are rendered into the response. A literal in trusted source is equally affected: `{% include "../../../etc/passwd" %}`. ### Impact Arbitrary local file disclosure (confidentiality). An attacker able to influence an include / extends / import path — directly, or via untrusted `locals` — can read files outside the template directory: application configuration, credentials, source code, `/etc/passwd`, and so on. There is no integrity or availability impact. ### Affected & patched Every published version up to and including `2.7.0` is affected — `@rhinostone/swig`, and the shared `@rhinostone/swig-core` loader, hence `@rhinostone/swig-twig`, `@rhinostone/swig-jinja2`, and `@rhinostone/swig-django` as well. Fixed in **`2.7.1`**: the filesystem loader now rejects any `include` / `extends` / `import` path that resolves outside the configured `basepath` root, including paths supplied through an untrusted runtime variable. A new `allowOutsideRoot` loader option is available for the rare case of intentionally reading files from outside the root. **Upgrade to `2.7.2` or later:** `2.7.1` fixed the vulnerability but introduced a regression — a *relative* `basepath` wrongly rejected every in-root template path. `2.7.2` resolves the `basepath` to an absolute path before the check and restores correct in-root resolution. ### Workarounds - Upgrade to `2.7.2` (or later). - If you cannot upgrade immediately: configure the filesystem loader with an explicit `basepath`, and never pass untrusted data into an `{% include %}` / `{% extends %}` / `{% import %}` path. ### References - GHSA-2rq5-699j-x7p6 — https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-2rq5-699j-x7p6 - CVE-2023-25345 (NVD) — https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25345 - Upstream issue (swig-templates) — https://github.com/node-swig/swig-templates/issues/88 - Fix commit — https://github.com/gina-io/swig/commit/381bdc305e0b10e45368d56324328b9b4f7017fc
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | @rhinostone/swig (npm) | before 2.7.1 | 2.7.1 | Patch available | GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf |
| — | @rhinostone/swig-core (npm) | before 2.7.1 | 2.7.1 | Patch available | GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf |
| — | @rhinostone/swig-twig (npm) | before 2.7.1 | 2.7.1 | Patch available | GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf |
| — | @rhinostone/swig-jinja2 (npm) | before 2.7.1 | 2.7.1 | Patch available | GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf |
| — | @rhinostone/swig-django (npm) | before 2.7.1 | 2.7.1 | Patch available | GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf |
- @rhinostone/swig (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2.7.1 Fixed in 2.7.1 Patch available GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf
- @rhinostone/swig-core (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2.7.1 Fixed in 2.7.1 Patch available GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf
- @rhinostone/swig-twig (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2.7.1 Fixed in 2.7.1 Patch available GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf
- @rhinostone/swig-jinja2 (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2.7.1 Fixed in 2.7.1 Patch available GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf
- @rhinostone/swig-django (npm) Vendor— Affected before 2.7.1 Fixed in 2.7.1 Patch available GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf @rhinostone/swig (npm) Fixed in 2.7.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf @rhinostone/swig-core (npm) Fixed in 2.7.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf @rhinostone/swig-twig (npm) Fixed in 2.7.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf @rhinostone/swig-jinja2 (npm) Fixed in 2.7.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf @rhinostone/swig-django (npm) Fixed in 2.7.1 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-2mf3-mr2r-r4vf
References
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences