---
id: CVE-2024-51998
aliases:
  - GHSA-6jrf-rcjf-245r
  - PYSEC-2026-1239
title: >-
  changedetection.io path traversal using file URI scheme without supplying
  hostname
summary: >-
  changedetection.io path traversal using file URI scheme without supplying
  hostname
severity: high
cvss: 8.6
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N'
vendor: changedetection-io
product: changedetection-io
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - changedetection-io < 0.47.6
patched:
  - changedetection-io 0.47.6
published: '2024-11-07'
updated: '2026-07-07'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-6jrf-rcjf-245r'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/security/advisories/GHSA-6jrf-rcjf-245r
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-51998'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/commit/49bc982c697169c98b79698889fb9d26f6b3317f
  - url: 'https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/blob/e0abf0b50507a8a3d0c1d8522ab23519b3e4cdf4/changedetectionio/model/Watch.py#L11-L13
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/blob/e0abf0b50507a8a3d0c1d8522ab23519b3e4cdf4/changedetectionio/processors/__init__.py#L37-L41
  - url: 'https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/releases/tag/0.47.06'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00688
epssPercentile: 0.50619
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:46.488Z'
---

## Overview

### Summary

The validation for the file URI scheme falls short, and results in an attacker being able to read any file on the system. This issue only affects instances with a webdriver enabled, and `ALLOW_FILE_URI` false or not defined.

### Details

The check used for URL protocol, `is_safe_url`, allows `file:` as a URL scheme:

https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/blob/e0abf0b50507a8a3d0c1d8522ab23519b3e4cdf4/changedetectionio/model/Watch.py#L11-L13

It later checks if local files are permitted, but one of the preconditions for the check is that the URL starts with `file://`. The issue comes with the fact that the file URI scheme is not required to have double slashes.

> A valid file URI must therefore begin with either `file:/path` (no hostname), `file:///path` (empty hostname), or `file://hostname/path`.
> — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_URI_scheme#Number_of_slash_characters)

https://github.com/dgtlmoon/changedetection.io/blob/e0abf0b50507a8a3d0c1d8522ab23519b3e4cdf4/changedetectionio/processors/__init__.py#L37-L41

### PoC

1. Open up a changedetection.io instance with a webdriver configured
2. Create a new watch: `file:/etc/passwd` or a similar path for your operating system. Enable webdriver mode
3. Wait for it to be checked
4. Open preview
5. Notice contents of the file


## Affected packages

- `changedetection-io < 0.47.6`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `changedetection-io 0.47.6`