CVE-2026-42085

OpenC3 COSMOS provides the functionality needed to send commands to and receive data from one or more embedded systems. Prior to versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3, OpenC3 COSMOS contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although the implementation sufficiently mitigates standard path traversal attacks, by canonicalizing filename to an absolute path, all plugins share this same root directory. That enables users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files within the shared /plugins directory. This issue has been patched in versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3.

OpenC3 COSMOS provides the functionality needed to send commands to and receive data from one or more embedded systems. Prior to versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3, OpenC3 COSMOS contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although the implementation sufficiently mitigates standard path traversal attacks, by canonicalizing filename to an absolute path, all plugins share this same root directory. That enables users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files within the shared /plugins directory. This issue has been patched in versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3.

Summary

OpenC3 COSMOS contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although the implementation sufficiently mitigates standard path traversal attacks, by canonicalizing filename to an absolute path, all plugins share this same root directory. That enables users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files within the shared /plugins directory.

Details

In function save_tool_config() (local_mode.rb) responsible for saving user-supplied tool configuration, the desired saving directory is not sufficiently enforced, instead allowing writes inside entire OPENC3_LOCAL_MODE_PATH.

PoC

1. Navigate to any tool that enables “Save Configuration” option in left-hand drop-down menu (here Limits Monitor as an example)
2. Save a new config with path traversal name using “../” sequences to escape desired directory (up to 3 levels high)
3. Observe new files created in /plugins directory by inspecting docker container directly (openc3-COSMOS-cmd-tlm-api) or using Bucket Explorer (plugin_default)

<img width="811" height="584" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/015a59b4-8b18-4801-aef0-df4831d5c1c3" /> <img width="720" height="664" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8ca4a5b7-ee45-4c3b-99f6-f41f974a74a7" />

Impact

Modifying the data of other plugins

OpenC3 COSMOS provides the functionality needed to send commands to and receive data from one or more embedded systems. Prior to versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3, OpenC3 COSMOS contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although the implementation sufficiently mitigates standard path traversal attacks, by canonicalizing filename to an absolute path, all plugins share this same root directory. That enables users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files within the shared /plugins directory. This issue has been patched in versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3.

OpenC3 COSMOS provides the functionality needed to send commands to and receive data from one or more embedded systems. Prior to versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3, OpenC3 COSMOS contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although the implementation sufficiently mitigates standard path traversal attacks, by canonicalizing filename to an absolute path, all plugins share this same root directory. That enables users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files within the shared /plugins directory. This issue has been patched in versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3.

Summary

OpenC3 COSMOS contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although the implementation sufficiently mitigates standard path traversal attacks, by canonicalizing filename to an absolute path, all plugins share this same root directory. That enables users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files within the shared /plugins directory.

Details

In function save_tool_config() (local_mode.rb) responsible for saving user-supplied tool configuration, the desired saving directory is not sufficiently enforced, instead allowing writes inside entire OPENC3_LOCAL_MODE_PATH.

PoC

1. Navigate to any tool that enables “Save Configuration” option in left-hand drop-down menu (here Limits Monitor as an example)
2. Save a new config with path traversal name using “../” sequences to escape desired directory (up to 3 levels high)
3. Observe new files created in /plugins directory by inspecting docker container directly (openc3-COSMOS-cmd-tlm-api) or using Bucket Explorer (plugin_default)

<img width="811" height="584" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/015a59b4-8b18-4801-aef0-df4831d5c1c3" /> <img width="720" height="664" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8ca4a5b7-ee45-4c3b-99f6-f41f974a74a7" />

Impact

Modifying the data of other plugins

OpenC3 COSMOS provides the functionality needed to send commands to and receive data from one or more embedded systems. Prior to versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3, OpenC3 COSMOS contains a design flaw in the save_tool_config() function that allows saving tool configuration files at arbitrary locations inside the shared /plugins directory tree by supplying crafted configuration filenames. Although the implementation sufficiently mitigates standard path traversal attacks, by canonicalizing filename to an absolute path, all plugins share this same root directory. That enables users to create arbitrary file structures and overwrite existing configuration files within the shared /plugins directory. This issue has been patched in versions 6.10.5 and 7.0.0-rc3.