# Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (CWE-22)

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

**Stack:** Python

- Prevalence: Alta Frecuentemente explotada
- Impact: Crítico 1 reglas de severidad crítica
- Prevention: Documentada 6 ejemplos de corrección

**OWASP:** Broken Access Control (A01:2021-Broken Access Control) - #1

## Description

Many file operations are intended to take place within a restricted directory. By using special elements such as '..' and '/' separators, attackers can escape outside of the restricted location to access files or directories that are elsewhere on the system.

## Prevention

Estrategias de prevención para Path Traversal basadas en 2 reglas de detección de Shoulder.

### Python

Use os.path.basename() or pathlib to restrict file access to intended directories

Validate extracted file paths stay within the target directory before writing

## Warning Signs

- [HIGH] untrusted user input being used in file system operations without
proper validation
- [HIGH] unsafe extraction of ZIP/TAR archives without path validation

## Consequences

- Leer archivos o directorios
- Modificar archivos o directorios
- Ejecutar código no autorizado

## Mitigations

- Usa una biblioteca o framework verificado que no permita que ocurra esta debilidad
- Usa una lista de permitidos de entradas aceptables que cumplan estrictamente con las especificaciones
- Para nombres de archivo, usa listas de permitidos estrictas que limiten el conjunto de caracteres

## Detection

- Total rules: 6
- Critical: 1
- Languages: go, javascript, typescript, python

## Rules by Language

### Python (2 rules)

- **Path Traversal / Directory Traversal** [HIGH]: Detects untrusted user input being used in file system operations without
proper validation.
  - Remediation: Use os.path.basename() to extract the filename only.

```python
import os
safe_filename = os.path.basename(user_filename)
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/python/cwe-22/path-traversal
- **Zip Slip / Archive Path Traversal** [HIGH]: Detects unsafe extraction of ZIP/TAR archives without path validation.
Malicious archives can contain filenames with "../" to write files outside
the intended directory (path traversal). Always validate extracted paths.
  - Remediation: Validate that extracted paths stay within the target directory before writing.

```python
import zipfile
import os

def safe_extract(zip_path, extract_to):
    with zipfile.ZipFile(zip_path, 'r') as zf:
        for member in zf.namelist():
            target = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(extract_to, member))
            if not target.startswith(os.path.abspath(extract_to)):
                raise ValueError(f"Path traversal: {member}")
            zf.extract(member, extract_to)
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/python/cwe-22/zip-slip