AVID-2026-R1301

Description

MindsDB has arbitrary file write in file.py (CVE-2023-50731)

Details

MindsDB is a SQL Server for artificial intelligence. Prior to version 23.11.4.1, the put method in mindsdb/mindsdb/api/http/namespaces/file.py does not validate the user-controlled name value, which is used in a temporary file name, which is afterwards opened for writing on lines 122-125, which leads to path injection. Later in the method, the temporary directory is deleted on line 151, but since we can write outside of the directory using the path injection vulnerability, the potentially dangerous file is not deleted. Arbitrary file contents can be written due to f.write(chunk) on line 125. Mindsdb does check later on line 149 in the save_file method in file-controller.py which calls the _handle_source method in file_handler.py if a file is of one of the types csv, json, parquet, xls, or xlsx. However, since the check happens after the file has already been written, the files will still exist (and will not be removed due to the path injection described earlier), just the _handle_source method will return an error. The same user-controlled source source is used also in another path injection sink on line 138. This leads to another path injection, which allows an attacker to delete any zip or tar.gz files on the server.

Reason for inclusion in AVID: CVE-2023-50731 describes an arbitrary file write and path injection vulnerability in MindsDB’s HTTP API (file.py) that can be triggered by user-controlled file names. This affects a component ( MindsDB server) used to build/run AI systems and pipelines, is a security vulnerability with high impact (arbitrary file write, potential deletion of files, SSRF-related concerns), and is evidenced by CVE details and official advisories. Therefore it concerns AI software supply chain components and warrants AVID curation.

References

Affected or Relevant Artifacts

Developer: mindsdb
Deployer: mindsdb
Artifact Details:

Type	Name
System	mindsdb

Impact

AVID Taxonomy Categorization

Risk domains: Security
SEP subcategories: S0100: Software Vulnerability
Lifecycle stages: L06: Deployment

CVSS

Version	3.1
Vector String	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
Base Score	9.1
Base Severity	🔴 Critical
Attack Vector	NETWORK
Attack Complexity	🟢 Low
Privileges Required	NONE
User Interaction	NONE
Scope	UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact	NONE
Integrity Impact	🔴 High
Availability Impact	🔴 High

CWE

ID	Description
CWE-918	CWE-918: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

Other information

Report Type: Advisory
Credits:
Date Reported: 2023-12-22
Version: 0.3.3
AVID Entry