Description

IBM Langflow OSS 1.0.0 through 1.11.2 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive information due to path traversal.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "6.5",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-04T16:17:22.027Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-04T16:17:22.027Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A path traversal vulnerability has been identified in IBM Langflow OSS, affecting versions 1.0.0 through 1.11.2.\nThis vulnerability allows a remote, authenticated attacker to bypass intended file system restrictions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information residing outside of the application's intended directory structure.\nThe core of the issue lies in improper validation of user-supplied input used in file path construction, enabling directory traversal sequences (such as '../') to access arbitrary files on the underlying host file system.\nThe risk implication is significant as it facilitates unauthorized data disclosure, potentially exposing configuration files, environment variables, or sensitive system data.\nExploitation requires the attacker to have valid authentication to the Langflow instance. Once authenticated, the attacker can manipulate requests to navigate the file system, leading to unauthorized read operations. No specialized privileges beyond basic authentication are explicitly required to trigger this vulnerability, making it a critical concern for deployments where user access is provisioned.\nRemediation necessitates updating to a secure version of the platform or implementing strict file system access controls.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability resides within the file handling mechanisms of IBM Langflow OSS, where user-provided input is utilized to construct paths for file access operations without sufficient sanitization or validation.\nThe root cause is a failure to effectively neutralize directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../ or ..\\) within the input parameters processed by the application’s file management logic. By injecting these sequences, an attacker can escape the designated base directory.\nThe exploitation flow initiates with the attacker crafting an HTTP request directed at a vulnerable endpoint responsible for retrieving or manipulating files. Within the request parameters—which the application treats as a file path—the attacker embeds traversal sequences to navigate up the directory tree.\nFor example, if the application attempts to retrieve a file by combining a base path (e.g., '/app/data/') with user input (e.g., 'user_file.txt'), the application fails to restrict the input when it contains sequences like '../../etc/passwd'. The resulting path evaluation resolves to '/etc/passwd', granting the attacker unauthorized access to files residing outside the intended scope.\nBecause the application does not implement robust path canonicalization or strict white-listing of allowed directories, the file system API processes the resolved path with the privileges of the application's service account. This allows the attacker to retrieve any file that the service account has permission to read.\nThis vulnerability is classified as a Path Traversal, often associated with insecure file I/O operations. It affects IBM Langflow OSS versions 1.0.0 through 1.11.2. The attack is executable over the network, contingent upon the attacker maintaining an active, authenticated session with the platform.\nPost-exploitation impact is severe, as it permits the exfiltration of sensitive configuration details, API keys, or proprietary data that may be located in the file system. In some environments, this information could be leveraged to further escalate access or compromise the host infrastructure.\nDefensive validation must occur at the application layer to verify that the final, canonicalized path remains within the boundaries of the intended root directory, ensuring that traversal attempts are rejected before any file system calls are executed."
}