CVE-2025-7450: gorobbs API Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-7450 Overview

CVE-2025-7450 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] in the letseeqiji gorobbs forum application through version 1.0.8. The flaw resides in the ResetUserAvatar function within controller/api/v1/user.go. An authenticated remote attacker can manipulate the filename argument to reference files outside the intended avatar directory. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, and technical details are available through VulDB and the project's GitHub issue tracker.

Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can traverse the file system by supplying crafted filename values to the avatar reset API, potentially exposing or modifying files outside the intended upload directory.

Affected Products

letseeqiji gorobbs versions up to and including 1.0.8
Component: API endpoint backed by controller/api/v1/user.go
Function: ResetUserAvatar

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-11 - CVE-2025-7450 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7450

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability affects the ResetUserAvatar handler exposed by the gorobbs API. The handler accepts a filename parameter from the request and uses it in a file system operation without sufficient sanitization. Because the value is not constrained to the avatar directory, an attacker can supply directory traversal sequences such as ../ to navigate the file system.

gorobbs is a Go-based bulletin board project. The API endpoint requires an authenticated session, matching the low-privilege requirement described in the CVSS vector. Exploitation can be performed remotely over the network with a single crafted HTTP request.

The public disclosure includes discussion in the project's GitHub issue tracker, meaning exploitation details are available to any attacker who reviews the referenced sources. See the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB entry #316095 for additional technical context.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation on the filename parameter passed to the ResetUserAvatar function in controller/api/v1/user.go. The application accepts the attacker-controlled string and uses it to construct a file path without normalizing the result or verifying that the resolved path remains within the intended avatar storage directory. This maps to CWE-22, Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory.

Attack Vector

An authenticated user sends an HTTP request to the avatar reset API with a filename value containing path traversal sequences. The server resolves the path relative to its working directory, granting read or write access to files outside the avatar directory depending on how the handler consumes the value. No user interaction beyond the attacker's own session is required.

No verified proof-of-concept code has been published to trusted exploit repositories. Refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion for reproduction details shared by the reporter.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7450

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to the avatar reset API endpoint containing ../, ..\\, URL-encoded (%2e%2e%2f), or double-encoded traversal sequences in the filename parameter
Access log entries showing the ResetUserAvatar route invoked with absolute paths or paths referencing sensitive files such as /etc/passwd or application configuration files
Unexpected modifications to files outside the configured avatar upload directory

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules that inspect API request bodies and query strings for path traversal patterns targeting user profile endpoints
Enable verbose logging in the gorobbs application to capture the raw filename value passed to ResetUserAvatar for retrospective analysis
Correlate authenticated user actions with file system events on the host to identify writes or reads outside the avatar directory

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor file integrity on directories adjacent to the avatar upload path, including application configuration and static asset directories
Alert on any authenticated API request whose parameters contain path separators or encoded traversal tokens
Track user accounts issuing repeated avatar reset requests, which may indicate exploitation attempts or fuzzing

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7450

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network exposure of the gorobbs API to trusted networks until a patched release is available
Audit existing avatar upload and configuration directories for unexpected files or modifications
Rotate credentials for any accounts that could have been used to exercise the vulnerable endpoint

Patch Information

At the time of NVD publication, no vendor-issued patch or fixed version had been referenced in the advisory. Monitor the letseeqiji gorobbs GitHub repository for an official fix and upgrade as soon as one becomes available. Apply source-level patches that validate filename inputs by rejecting path separators, resolving the target path with filepath.Clean, and confirming the result remains within the avatar directory before performing file operations.

Workarounds

Place a reverse proxy or WAF in front of the application to block requests where the filename parameter contains .., forward slashes, backslashes, or URL-encoded equivalents
Run the gorobbs process under a dedicated low-privilege user with file system access limited to its required directories
Disable or gate the avatar reset endpoint through authentication middleware that restricts it to specific trusted roles until a fix is applied

bash

# Example nginx rule to block traversal patterns in the avatar reset endpoint
location /api/v1/user/avatar {
    if ($args ~* "(\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e)") { return 403; }
    if ($request_body ~* "(\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e)") { return 403; }
    proxy_pass http://gorobbs_backend;
}