CVE-2021-32662

Path traversal

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A malicious actor could read sensitive files from the environment where TechDocs documentation is built and published by setting a particular path for docs_dir in mkdocs.yml. These files would then be available over the TechDocs backend API.

This vulnerability is mitigated by the fact that an attacker would need access to modify the mkdocs.yml in the documentation source code, and would also need access to the TechDocs backend API.

Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files. Typical impact: unauthorized file read or write outside the intended directory.

CVE-2021-32662 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (0.6.3); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

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The vulnerability is patched in the 0.6.3 release of @backstage/techdocs-common.

1. What is CVE-2021-32662? CVE-2021-32662 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in @backstage/techdocs-common (npm), affecting versions < 0.6.3. It is fixed in 0.6.3. Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files.
2. How severe is CVE-2021-32662? CVE-2021-32662 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of @backstage/techdocs-common are affected by CVE-2021-32662? @backstage/techdocs-common (npm) versions < 0.6.3 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2021-32662? Yes. CVE-2021-32662 is fixed in 0.6.3. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2021-32662 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-32662 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2021-32662 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2021-32662? Upgrade @backstage/techdocs-common to 0.6.3 or later.

Other vulnerabilities in @backstage/techdocs-common