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CVE-2023-32309

Arbitrary file inclusion with the pymdowm-snippets extension

7.5 HighPublic exploitFix available

PyMdown Extensions is a set of extensions for the Python-Markdown markdown project. In affected versions an arbitrary file read is possible when using include file syntax. By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd". Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py. Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users. It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed. This issue has been addressed in version 10.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may restrict relative paths by filtering input.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

1.66%Up 1.6 points since May 16, 2023
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 7.5

Arbitrary file inclusion with the pymdowm-snippets extension

PyMdown Extensions is a set of extensions for the Python-Markdown markdown project. In affected versions an arbitrary file read is possible when using include file syntax. By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd". Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py. Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users. It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed. This issue has been addressed in version 10.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may restrict relative paths by filtering input.

Record
CVE-2023-32309
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-1568 7.5

PyMdown Extensions is a set of extensions for the Python-Markdown markdown project. In affected versions an arbitrary file read is possible when using include file syntax. By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd". Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py. Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users. It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed. This issue has been addressed in version 10.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may restrict relative paths by filtering input.

Record
EUVD-2023-1568
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-jh85-wwv9-24hv 7.5

Any file can be included with the pymdown-snippets extension

Summary

Arbitrary file read when using include file syntax.

Details

By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd".

Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py.

base = "docs"
path = "/etc/passwd"
filename = os.path.join(base,path) # Filename is now /etc/passwd

PoC

import markdown

payload = "--8<-- \"/etc/passwd\""
html = markdown.markdown(payload, extensions=['pymdownx.snippets'])

print(html)

Impact

Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users.

It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed.

Suggestion

Specified snippets should be restricted to the configured, specified base paths as a safe default. Allowing relative or absolute paths that escape the specified base paths would need to be behind a feature switch that must be opt-in and would be at the developer's own risk.

Record
GHSA-jh85-wwv9-24hv
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 7.5

PyMdown Extensions is a set of extensions for the Python-Markdown markdown project. In affected versions an arbitrary file read is possible when using include file syntax. By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd". Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py. Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users. It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed. This issue has been addressed in version 10.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may restrict relative paths by filtering input.

Record
CVE-2023-32309
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.5

Arbitrary file inclusion with the pymdowm-snippets extension

PyMdown Extensions is a set of extensions for the Python-Markdown markdown project. In affected versions an arbitrary file read is possible when using include file syntax. By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd". Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py. Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users. It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed. This issue has been addressed in version 10.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may restrict relative paths by filtering input.

Record
CVE-2023-32309
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2023-32309 7.5

PyMdown Extensions is a set of extensions for the Python-Markdown markdown project. In affected versions an arbitrary file read is possible when using include file syntax. By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd". Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py. Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users. It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed. This issue has been addressed in version 10.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may restrict relative paths by filtering input.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-32309
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-jh85-wwv9-24hv 7.5

Any file can be included with the pymdown-snippets extension

Summary

Arbitrary file read when using include file syntax.

Details

By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd".

Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py.

base = "docs"
path = "/etc/passwd"
filename = os.path.join(base,path) # Filename is now /etc/passwd

PoC

import markdown

payload = "--8<-- \"/etc/passwd\""
html = markdown.markdown(payload, extensions=['pymdownx.snippets'])

print(html)

Impact

Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users.

It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed.

Suggestion

Specified snippets should be restricted to the configured, specified base paths as a safe default. Allowing relative or absolute paths that escape the specified base paths would need to be behind a feature switch that must be opt-in and would be at the developer's own risk.

Record
GHSA-jh85-wwv9-24hv
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-1824 7.5

Any file can be included with the pymdown-snippets extension

Summary

Arbitrary file read when using include file syntax.

Details

By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd".

Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py.

base = "docs"
path = "/etc/passwd"
filename = os.path.join(base,path) # Filename is now /etc/passwd

PoC

import markdown

payload = "--8<-- \"/etc/passwd\""
html = markdown.markdown(payload, extensions=['pymdownx.snippets'])

print(html)

Impact

Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users.

It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed.

Suggestion

Specified snippets should be restricted to the configured, specified base paths as a safe default. Allowing relative or absolute paths that escape the specified base paths would need to be behind a feature switch that must be opt-in and would be at the developer's own risk.

Record
PYSEC-2026-1824
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-32309 7.5

PyMdown Extensions is a set of extensions for the Python-Markdown markdown project. In affected versions an arbitrary file read is possible when using include file syntax. By using the syntax --8<--"/etc/passwd" or --8<--"/proc/self/environ" the content of these files will be rendered in the generated documentation. Additionally, a path relative to a specified, allowed base path can also be used to render the content of a file outside the specified base paths: --8<-- "../../../../etc/passwd". Within the Snippets extension, there exists a base_path option but the implementation is vulnerable to Directory Traversal. The vulnerable section exists in get_snippet_path(self, path) lines 155 to 174 in snippets.py. Any readable file on the host where the plugin is executing may have its content exposed. This can impact any use of Snippets that exposes the use of Snippets to external users. It is never recommended to use Snippets to process user-facing, dynamic content. It is designed to process known content on the backend under the control of the host, but if someone were to accidentally enable it for user-facing content, undesired information could be exposed. This issue has been addressed in version 10.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may restrict relative paths by filtering input.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-32309
CVSS 3.1
7.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
pymdown-extensions
PyPI
1.5 up to 10.0
10.0
pymdown-extensions
Debian:12
All versions, plus listed versions
10.11.2-110.13-110.13-210.13-310.13-4
Show 9 moreShow less
10.19.1-110.19.1-310.8.1-110.9-111.0.1-19.5-29.5-39.5-49.5-5
None known
pymdown-extensions
Debian:13
before 10.8.1-1
10.8.1-1
pymdown-extensions
Debian:14
before 10.8.1-1
10.8.1-1
pymdown-extensions
PyPI
1.5 up to 10.0, plus listed versions
1.61.6.11.71.82.0
Show 45 moreShow less
3.03.13.23.2.13.33.43.54.04.14.104.10.14.10.24.114.124.24.34.44.54.5.14.64.74.84.94.9.14.9.25.06.06.16.26.2.16.37.07.0b17.0b27.0rc17.0rc27.18.08.0.18.18.1.18.29.09.0.dev09.1
10.0
pymdown-extensions
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
9.5-29.5-49.5-5
None known

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubitlabbet/CVE-2023-323092023-05-16

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-32309 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Facelessuser Pymdown Extensions, published May 15, 2023. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.66%, the 76th percentile. Fixed in pymdown-extensions 10.0.

References

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