What is CVE-2025-55149?

CVE-2025-55149 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in tiny-scientist (pip), affecting versions <= 1.1.0. No fixed version is listed yet. Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files.

Which versions of tiny-scientist are affected by CVE-2025-55149?

tiny-scientist (pip) versions <= 1.1.0 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2025-55149?

No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-55149 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.

Is CVE-2025-55149 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2025-55149 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.

What actually determines whether CVE-2025-55149 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.

CVE-2025-55149 in tiny-scientist

Q: Which versions of tiny-scientist are affected by CVE-2025-55149?

tiny-scientist (pip) versions <= 1.1.0 is affected.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2025-55149?

No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-55149 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.

Q: Is CVE-2025-55149 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2025-55149 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.

Q: What actually determines whether CVE-2025-55149 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.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2025-55149?

No fixed version is listed yet. In the interim: Resolve the canonical path after applying any user-supplied input, and verify it remains within the intended directory before accessing it.

Summary

TinyScientist has Path Traversal Vulnerability in PDF Review Function (CWE-22)

Description

A critical path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) has been identified in the review_paper function in backend/app.py. The vulnerability allows malicious users to access arbitrary PDF files on the server by providing crafted file paths that bypass the intended security restrictions.

Vulnerable Code

The issue occurs in the review_paper function around line 744:

if pdf_path.startswith("/api/files/"):
    # Safe path handling for API routes
    relative_path = pdf_path[len("/api/files/"):]
    generated_base = os.path.join(project_root, "generated")
    absolute_pdf_path = os.path.join(generated_base, relative_path)
else:
    absolute_pdf_path = pdf_path  # VULNERABLE: Direct use of user input

Proof of Concept

curl -X POST http://localhost:5000/api/review \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"pdf_path": "/etc/passwd"}'

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered and reported by Ruizhe.

Impact

This vulnerability allows attackers to:

Read any PDF file accessible to the server process
Potentially access sensitive documents outside the intended directory
Perform reconnaissance on the server's file system structure

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.

Affected versions

tiny-scientist (<= 1.1.0)

Security releases

Not available

Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

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. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.

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Remediation advice

No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-55149 yet.

In the interim: Resolve the canonical path after applying any user-supplied input, and verify it remains within the intended directory before accessing it.

Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-55149? CVE-2025-55149 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in tiny-scientist (pip), affecting versions <= 1.1.0. No fixed version is listed yet. Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files.
Which versions of tiny-scientist are affected by CVE-2025-55149? tiny-scientist (pip) versions <= 1.1.0 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2025-55149? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2025-55149 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
Is CVE-2025-55149 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-55149 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
What actually determines whether CVE-2025-55149 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.
How do I fix CVE-2025-55149? No fixed version is listed yet. In the interim: Resolve the canonical path after applying any user-supplied input, and verify it remains within the intended directory before accessing it.