internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download()
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.
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:
- Manually sanitizes all filenames using a robust method.
- 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
- Commit with the fix
- CVE Identifier: CVE-2025-58438
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | internetarchive | < 5.5.1 | 5.5.1 |
References
- https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive/security/advisories/GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-58438
- https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive/commit/cba2d459e10a9489fb35caeba0b03e80f5f5d7c2
- https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive
- https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive/releases/tag/v5.5.1
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/09/msg00030.html
- https://pypi.org/project/internetarchive
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp
- CVSS vector
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- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
internetarchive- Disclosed
- 05.09.2025
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 14:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp - CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-357 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: internetarchive
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
This is the only known vulnerability of this package.
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.