Unsanitized user input in file path

• Rule ID: ruby_lang_path_using_user_input
• Languages: ruby
• Source: path_using_user_input.yml

Description

Using raw unsanitized input when forming filenames or file paths is bad practice. It can lead to path manipulation, by which attackers can gain access to resources outside of the intended scope.

Remediations

❌ Avoid wherever possible

✅ Validate expected file paths using File methods

  path = File.expand("/home/" + params[:resource_name])
  if path.starts_with?("/home/")
    Dir.chdir(path)
  else
    # path is unexpected
  end

Resources

• OWASP path traversal attack

Associated CWE

• CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path

OWASP Top 10

• A04:2021 - Insecure Design

Configuration

To skip this rule during a scan, use the following flag

bearer scan /path/to/your-project/ --skip-rule=ruby_lang_path_using_user_input

To run only this rule during a scan, use the following flag

bearer scan /path/to/your-project/ --only-rule=ruby_lang_path_using_user_input