Summary
Tornado: StaticFileHandler follows symlinks outside static root (path traversal)
Impact
Any application using StaticFileHandler is potentially affected if:
- the static directory contains symlinks pointing outside it (common with build tooling), or
- the application allows file uploads into the static directory without stripping symlinks.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can read any file readable by the process user: application secrets, private TLS keys, database credentials, /etc/shadow, SSH keys, or source code (depending on the process's filesystem permissions).
Affected versions
Security releases
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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Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R? GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R is a high-severity security vulnerability in tornado (pip), affecting versions <= 6.5.8. It is fixed in 6.5.9.
- Which versions of tornado are affected by GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R? tornado (pip) versions <= 6.5.8 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R? Yes. GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R is fixed in 6.5.9. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R 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 GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R 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 GHSA-C2M8-H5V5-343R? Upgrade
tornadoto 6.5.9 or later.