DeepTutor TutorBot Path Traversal Vulnerability and Exploitation Analysis

Vulnerability Overview The TutorBot filesystem tool in DeepTutor contains a path traversal vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this through LLM tool execution, using tools such as , , and to write to or edit files at arbitrary absolute paths outside the intended workspace, without proper validation or sandboxing. Scope Module: TutorBot filesystem tool API/Backend: Not specified Configuration: DeepTutor configuration using an LLM provider Remediation 1. Validate file paths: All file paths must be validated against the bot's designated workspace directory. 2. Reject absolute paths: Reject absolute paths that fall outside the workspace. 3. Reject relative paths: Reject relative paths containing or other traversal sequences. 4. Normalize paths: Normalize and resolve paths before validation to prevent bypass techniques. 5. Error handling: Return an error when attempting to access files outside the workspace. 6. Sandboxing: Implement appropriate sandboxing for all file operations. 7. Logging: Log all file access attempts for security auditing. POC Code Exploitation Steps 1. Install and start DeepTutor. 2. Configure a real LLM provider so that TutorBot can invoke tools via normal model-driven workflows. 3. Create or open a TutorBot that exposes , , and tools, and open its chat interface. 4. Send the first message: 5. Record the workspace path returned by TutorBot. 6. Define the test file path as . 7. Send the second message: 8. Send the third message: 9. Send the fourth message: 10. Confirm that the final visible browser content is , not . 11. Since the test file path is explicitly the parent directory of the reported workspace, successful write, edit, and read-back operations prove the crossing of workspace boundaries. 12. If the UI displays tool tracing, capture additional evidence of the , , and calls. 13. Preserve three pieces of evidence: the complete multi-turn chat, the final read-back of , and visible tool tracing (if available). Expected Behavior All file paths must be validated against the bot's designated workspace directory. Absolute paths outside the workspace must be rejected. Relative paths containing or other traversal sequences must be rejected. Paths must be normalized and resolved before validation to prevent bypass techniques. An error must be returned when attempting to access files outside the workspace. Appropriate sandboxing must be implemented for all file operations. All file access attempts must be logged for security auditing. Related Modules API/Backend: Not specified Configuration Usage Logs and Screenshots None Additional Information DeepTutor Version: v1.4.0 Operating System: Windows 11, macOS 14.0, Ubuntu 22.04 Python Version: 3.10+ Node.js Version: 18.17.0+ Browser (if applicable): Chrome 120+, Firefox 121+ Related Issues: None Comments Ro1ME added the label on May 25 pancake commented on May 27: "Thanks for your comments! Feel free to try the newest version" pancake closed this issue on May 27, marking it as pancake added a commit referencing this issue on May 27 vaskyoudha added a commit referencing this issue on July 26 Summary The TutorBot filesystem tool in DeepTutor contains a path traversal vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this through LLM tool execution, using tools such as , , and to write to or edit files at arbitrary absolute paths outside the intended workspace, without proper validation or sandboxing. Remediation measures include validating file paths, rejecting absolute paths, rejecting relative paths, normalizing paths, implementing error handling, applying sandboxing, and logging.

Goal Reached Thanks to every supporter — we hit 100%!

DeepTutor TutorBot Path Traversal Vulnerability and Exploitation Analysis

More from this source