internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download()

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS 4.0

9.4 · 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 · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2025-58438: 1.59% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 75.68 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

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,…

Published by the source

5 Sep 2025, 21:00 UTC

Last modified by the source

27 Oct 2026, 17:30 UTC

Source last checked

28 Oct 2026, 06:05 UTC

1. Revision 5 · amended · 28 Oct 2026

   Amended from osv record GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp

2. Revision 4 · amended · 27 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp

3. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp

4. Revision 2 · amended · 25 Oct 2026

   Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

5. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2025-58438

Advisory: internetarchive Vulnerable to Directory Traversal in File.download()
IDs: CVE-2025-58438, GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2025-58438 (revision 5, source checked 28 Oct 2026, 06:05 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.4)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: internetarchive 5.5.1. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- PyPI internetarchive: affected < 5.5.1; fixed in 5.5.1

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `python -m pip show internetarchive`: prints the installed version. Run with the environment that serves production active.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on internetarchive.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp (OSV record GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp lists affected ranges: PyPI internetarchive >=0 <5.5.1 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-wx3r-v6h7-frjp lists affected ranges: PyPI internetarchive >=0 <=5.5.0)

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