# CVE-2023-6569: h2oai h2o-3 arbitrary file overwrite via path traversal

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-6569-h2oai-h2o-3-arbitrary-file-overwrite-via-path-traversal  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-12-14. Updated: 2026-05-11  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-6569 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.3 · Published 2023-12-14

A vulnerability in the H2O-3 machine learning platform allows remote attackers to overwrite files on the server without needing to log in. This could lead to service disruptions or the corruption of critical system files. While the attacker can choose which file to overwrite, the content they can insert is partially restricted by the application's file export format.

Technologies: [H2O.ai H2O-3](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/h2o-3), [h2o (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/h2o). Vendors: [H2O.ai](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/h2o-ai), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-6569 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2023-6569 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2023-6569?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.3, published 14 December 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** H2O.ai H2O-3 < 3.46.0.1; h2o (PyPI) < 3.46.0.1, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.46.0.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-6569?** Yes. h2o (PyPI): upgrade to 3.46.0.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2023-6569 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-6569?** Check whether you run H2O.ai H2O-3 or h2o (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- h2o (PyPI): upgrade to 3.46.0.1 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "h2o>=3.46.0.1"
  ```


## Technical details

A path traversal or external control of file path vulnerability (CWE-73) exists in h2oai/h2o-3. Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit this by providing a malicious file path during data export operations (such as CSV or XLS exports). This allows the attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the server's filesystem. While the file path is fully controllable, the injected data is constrained by the export format; for example, CSV exports wrap the data in quotations and prepend specific headers like 'C1'. The vulnerability is patched in version 3.46.0.1.

## Affected products

- h2oai h2o-3 < 3.46.0.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2023-6569
- GHSA-gqrq-j6pm-98c2
- PYSEC-2026-350

## Timeline

- 2023-12-14: disclosed
- 2023-12-14: advisory
- 2023-12-14: patched

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal](https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal)
- [https://github.com/RainSignal](https://github.com/RainSignal)
- [https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal/repos](https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/101503193?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/101503193?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/RainSignal/events%7B/privacy%7D)

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- [PYSEC-2026-1438 - H2O Vulnerable to Denial of Service (DoS) via `HEAD` Request](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-8062-h2o-vulnerable-to-denial-of-service-dos-via-head-request)
- [PYSEC-2026-1443 - H2O Vulnerable to Denial of Service (DoS) via `/3/ImportFiles` Endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-7768-h2o-vulnerable-to-denial-of-service-dos-via-3-importfiles-endpoint)
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- [PYSEC-2026-1442 - H2O Vulnerable to Execution of Arbitrary Files](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-6863-h2o-vulnerable-to-execution-of-arbitrary-files)