CVE-2025-48957 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability (CWE-23) affecting AstrBot, a large language model chatbot and development framework. The vulnerability exists in AstrBot versions from 3.4.4 up to but not including 3.5.13. It allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to perform relative path traversal attacks due to insufficient validation of file path inputs, specifically related to the dashboard feature. Exploiting this flaw enables attackers to access sensitive files on the server hosting AstrBot, potentially disclosing critical information such as API keys for LLM providers, user account passwords, and other confidential data. The vulnerability does not require any user interaction or privileges and can be exploited remotely over the network, making it particularly dangerous. The issue has been fixed in version 3.5.13 through a code update (Pull Request #1676). As a temporary mitigation, disabling the dashboard feature by editing the cmd_config.json file can reduce exposure, but upgrading to 3.5.13 or later is strongly recommended for full remediation. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 reflects the high confidentiality impact with no impact on integrity or availability, and the ease of exploitation given no privileges or user interaction are required.

For European organizations using AstrBot, this vulnerability poses a significant risk of sensitive data leakage, including API credentials and user passwords, which could lead to unauthorized access to other connected systems or services. Given the nature of AstrBot as a development framework and chatbot platform, compromised API keys could allow attackers to manipulate or abuse LLM services, potentially causing reputational damage or financial loss. The exposure of account credentials could lead to further lateral movement within organizational networks. Since the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, it increases the attack surface and risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts. Organizations in sectors relying heavily on AI-driven chatbots, such as technology firms, financial institutions, and public sector entities, may face elevated risks. Additionally, the disclosure of sensitive data could have compliance implications under GDPR if personal data is involved.

Organizations should immediately verify their AstrBot version and upgrade to version 3.5.13 or later to fully remediate the vulnerability. Until the upgrade can be performed, disabling the dashboard feature by modifying the cmd_config.json configuration file is advised to reduce exposure. Network-level controls such as restricting access to the AstrBot service to trusted internal IPs or VPNs can further limit attack vectors. Monitoring logs for unusual file access patterns or attempts to traverse directories can help detect exploitation attempts. Implementing strict file system permissions to limit the files accessible by AstrBot processes can reduce the impact of a successful attack. Finally, organizations should rotate any potentially exposed API keys and passwords after patching to mitigate risks from prior compromise.