CVE-2024-45312
Arbitrary language parameter can passed to `aspell` executable via spelling requests in overleaf
- Published
- Updated
- Reserved
- Assigned by
- GitHub_M
Description
Overleaf is a web-based collaborative LaTeX editor. Overleaf Community Edition and Server Pro prior to version 5.0.7 (or 4.2.7 for the 4.x series) contain a vulnerability that allows an arbitrary language parameter in client spelling requests to be passed to the `aspell` executable running on the server. This causes `aspell` to attempt to load a dictionary file with an arbitrary filename. File access is limited to the scope of the overleaf server. The problem is patched in versions 5.0.7 and 4.2.7. Previous versions can be upgraded using the Overleaf toolkit `bin/upgrade` command. Users unable to upgrade may block POST requests to `/spelling/check` via a Web Application Firewall will prevent access to the vulnerable spell check feature. However, upgrading is advised.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub_MCNA (assigner) | 3.1 | Medium5.3 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N |
| NVDNVD · Analyzed | 3.1 | Medium5.3 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 0.48% · top 59% of all CVEs (6 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: none · Automatable: yes · Technical impact: partial
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Medium 5.3.
Weakness
- CWE-641: Improper Restriction of Names for Files and Other Resources (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-641 and its CVEs
- CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-22 and its CVEs
- CWE-74 (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-74 and its CVEs
Affected products
References (3)
- https://github.com/overleaf/overleaf/security/advisories/GHSA-pxm4-p454-vppg (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/overleaf/overleaf/commit/b5e5d39c3ad4e7763d42b837738955f8ded4dcd3 (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/overleaf/toolkit (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISC
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2024-45312)Record last updated .