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Path traversal in Matrix Synapse

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Nov 23, 2021 in matrix-org/synapse • Updated Feb 1, 2023

Package

pip matrix-synapse (pip)

Affected versions

< 1.47.1

Patched versions

1.47.1

Description

Impact

Synapse instances with the media repository enabled can be tricked into downloading a file from a remote server into an arbitrary directory, potentially outside the media store directory.

The last two directories and file name of the path are chosen randomly by Synapse and cannot be controlled by an attacker, which limits the impact.

Homeservers with the media repository disabled are unaffected. Homeservers configured with a federation whitelist are also unaffected.

Patches

Server administrators should upgrade to 1.47.1 or later.

Workarounds

Server administrators using a reverse proxy could, at the expense of losing media functionality, block the following endpoints:

  • /_matrix/media/r0/download/{serverName}/{mediaId}
  • /_matrix/media/r0/download/{serverName}/{mediaId}/{fileName}
  • /_matrix/media/r0/thumbnail/{serverName}/{mediaId}

Alternatively, non-containerized deployments can be adapted to use the hardened systemd config, located at contrib/systemd/override-hardened.conf.

References

n/a

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, e-mail us at [email protected].

References

@squahtx squahtx published to matrix-org/synapse Nov 23, 2021
Reviewed Nov 23, 2021
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Nov 23, 2021
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Nov 23, 2021
Last updated Feb 1, 2023

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

0.140%
(50th percentile)

Weaknesses

CVE ID

CVE-2021-41281

GHSA ID

GHSA-3hfw-x7gx-437c

Source code

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