Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-27610

Path Traversal in Rack ≤ 2.2.13

Published
10 March 2025
Modified
03 November 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.011 64th percentile
Risk Priority 61 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-27610 is a high-severity Relative Path Traversal (CWE-23) vulnerability in Rack Rack. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 36% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and AC-3 (Access Enforcement) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

Rack is a Ruby interface for building web applications, and the vulnerability in CVE-2025-27610 affects the Rack::Static component in versions prior to 2.2.13, 3.0.14, and 3.1.12. The flaw stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied paths, allowing encoded traversal sequences to bypass restrictions even when specific urls: are configured, so that any file under the designated root: directory can be retrieved.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the issue over the network by crafting requests containing path traversal sequences to read arbitrary files under root:, provided the attacker can guess or determine target paths, resulting in disclosure of sensitive data with no impact on integrity or availability.

Advisories and patches recommend upgrading to the fixed releases, removing Rack::Static usage entirely, configuring root: to contain only publicly intended files, or placing a CDN or dedicated static file server in front of the application to limit exposure. The associated EPSS scores remain low with only a minor peak, indicating limited observed exploitation interest to date.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Rack provides an interface for developing web applications in Ruby. Prior to versions 2.2.13, 3.0.14, and 3.1.12, `Rack::Static` can serve files under the specified `root:` even if `urls:` are provided, which may expose other files under the specified `root:` unexpectedly.…

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The vulnerability occurs because `Rack::Static` does not properly sanitize user-supplied paths before serving files. Specifically, encoded path traversal sequences are not correctly validated, allowing attackers to access files outside the designated static file directory. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can gain access to all files under the specified `root:` directory, provided they are able to determine then path of the file. Versions 2.2.13, 3.0.14, and 3.1.12 contain a patch for the issue. Other mitigations include removing usage of `Rack::Static`, or ensuring that `root:` points at a directory path which only contains files which should be accessed publicly. It is likely that a CDN or similar static file server would also mitigate the issue.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-34763Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2026-34835Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2026-34830Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2026-32762Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2026-26962Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2026-26961Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2026-22860Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2026-34786Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2025-27111Same product: Rack Rack
CVE-2025-25184Same product: Rack Rack

Affected Assets

rack
rack
≤ 2.2.13 · 3.0.0 — 3.0.14 · 3.1.0 — 3.1.12

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.3.2

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Explicit validation of path inputs stops .. sequences from ever being interpreted by the file system.

Access enforcement directly blocks unauthorized file reads/writes that result from unresolved .. sequences.

Information-flow rules can be configured to reject traversals that would move data outside an approved directory boundary.

Least privilege reduces the set of reachable files even when a traversal succeeds.

Secure-engineering principles require safe pathname construction and input neutralization before any file operation.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require input validation and path sanitization that prevent relative traversal.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing in development catches path traversal via static/dynamic analysis, but does not itself implement the fix.

prevents

Secure development lifecycle mandates input validation and path-handling controls that directly prevent relative path traversal.

prevents

Application security requirements explicitly call for controls against path traversal and other injection flaws.

prevents

Secure architecture principles include directory isolation and canonicalization, reducing but not eliminating traversal risk.

prevents

Secure coding standards require neutralizing path traversal sequences, directly addressing CWE-23.

mitigates

Information access restriction limits which files can be reached, mitigating impact but not preventing the traversal flaw.

References