CVE-2026-91940: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in unclecode crawl4ai
crawl4ai before 0.9.3 contains an arbitrary file write vulnerability in PDFContentScrapingStrategy where the _filter_untrusted_fields function fails to validate untrusted configuration fields. Attackers can submit crafted config bodies with malicious image_save_dir paths to write attacker-controlled bytes into any directory accessible to the service account.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability in crawl4ai versions prior to 0.9.3 is caused by the _filter_untrusted_fields function failing to properly validate untrusted configuration fields. This allows attackers to specify malicious image_save_dir paths, enabling arbitrary file write operations to any directory accessible by the service account running the application. This flaw is categorized as a path traversal issue leading to arbitrary file write. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 8.7, indicating high severity with network attack vector, no privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on integrity.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to write arbitrary files to any directory accessible by the service account, potentially leading to code execution, data corruption, or system compromise depending on the environment and permissions.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade crawl4ai to version 0.9.3 or later where this vulnerability is fixed. Since this is a software vulnerability with a known fixed version, applying the official patch is the recommended remediation.
CVE-2026-91940: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in unclecode crawl4ai
Description
crawl4ai before 0.9.3 contains an arbitrary file write vulnerability in PDFContentScrapingStrategy where the _filter_untrusted_fields function fails to validate untrusted configuration fields. Attackers can submit crafted config bodies with malicious image_save_dir paths to write attacker-controlled bytes into any directory accessible to the service account.
CVSS v4.0
Score 8.7high
Affected software
unclecode
crawl4ai
pkg:github/unclecode/crawl4aiRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability in crawl4ai versions prior to 0.9.3 is caused by the _filter_untrusted_fields function failing to properly validate untrusted configuration fields. This allows attackers to specify malicious image_save_dir paths, enabling arbitrary file write operations to any directory accessible by the service account running the application. This flaw is categorized as a path traversal issue leading to arbitrary file write. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 8.7, indicating high severity with network attack vector, no privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on integrity.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to write arbitrary files to any directory accessible by the service account, potentially leading to code execution, data corruption, or system compromise depending on the environment and permissions.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade crawl4ai to version 0.9.3 or later where this vulnerability is fixed. Since this is a software vulnerability with a known fixed version, applying the official patch is the recommended remediation.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- VulnCheck
- Date Reserved
- 2026-09-15T11:07:01.912Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6aa9651a55bf5e2cf502eb05
Added to database: 09/15/2026, 15:32:42 UTC
Last enriched: 09/15/2026, 16:01:48 UTC
Last updated: 09/16/2026, 02:32:12 UTC
Views: 7
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