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Response snapshot Oct 27, 2026, 18:26 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2025-58438

internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download()

What kind of vulnerability is it? This is a Critical severity directory traversal (path traversal) vulnerability in the File.download() method of the internetarchive library. Who is impacted? All users of the internetarchive library versions < 5.5.1 are impacted.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
9.4 Critical (CVSS 4.0)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

GitHub lists first patched versions: internetarchive: 5.5.1. Confirm the affected range and upgrade guidance in the exact advisory.

Read GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp (opens a new tab)

What happened

Impact

What kind of vulnerability is it? This is a Critical severity directory traversal (path traversal) vulnerability in the File.download() method of the internetarchive library.

Who is impacted? All users of the internetarchive library versions < 5.5.1 are impacted. The vulnerability is particularly critical for users on Windows systems, but all operating systems are affected.

Description of the vulnerability: The vulnerability existed because the file.download() method did not properly sanitize user-supplied filenames or validate the final download path. A maliciously crafted filename could contain path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../../windows/system32/file.txt) or illegal characters that, when processed, would cause the file to be written outside of the intended target directory.

Continue reading

Potential Impact: An attacker could potentially overwrite critical system files or application configuration files, leading to a denial of service, privilege escalation, or remote code execution, depending on the context in which the library is used.

Patches

Has the problem been patched? Yes, the problem has been patched.

What versions should users upgrade to? Users must upgrade to version 5.5.1 or later.

Workarounds

Is there a way for users to fix or remediate the vulnerability without upgrading? There is no direct workaround that does not involve upgrading the library. The vulnerability is in the core logic of the file download process.

The only alternative for users who absolutely cannot upgrade is to implement their own custom download function that:

1. Manually sanitizes all filenames using a robust method. 2. Validates that the resolved absolute path of the download target is within the intended directory before writing any files.

However, this essentially re-implements the fix and is not recommended. Upgrading to the patched version is the only safe and supported solution.

References

- [Release Notes for v5.5.1](https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive/releases/tag/v5.5.1) - [Commit with the fix](https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive/commit/cba2d459e10a9489fb35caeba0b03e80f5f5d7c2) - CVE Identifier: CVE-2025-58438

Affected package ranges reported by GitHub: internetarchive: <= 5.5.0

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

9.4

Version 4.0As of

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp (opens a new tab)

    The public advisory supplies the description, affected package/version ranges, and any listed CVSS metric. GitHub review is not local review.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, October 27). internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download() (CVE-2025-58438). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2025-58438

MLA

"internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download() (CVE-2025-58438)." KEVWire, 27 Oct. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2025-58438.

Chicago

KEVWire. "internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download() (CVE-2025-58438)." Last modified October 27, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2025-58438.

Evidence summary (plain text)

internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download() (Sep 5, 2025).
What kind of vulnerability is it?
This is a Critical severity directory traversal (path traversal) vulnerability in the File.download() method of the internetarchive library.

Who is impacted?
All users of the internetarchive library versions < 5.5.1 are impacted. The vulnerability is particularly critical for users on Windows systems, but all operating systems are affected.

Description of the vulnerability:
The vulnerability existed because the file.download() method did not properly sanitize user-supplied filenames or validate the final download path.
CVSS 9.4 (version 4.0; evidence as of Oct 27, 2026; https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp).
Sources:
GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc
Record ID: CVE-2025-58438.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Oct 27, 2026, 18:10 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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Record details

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