# CVE-2026-34523: SillyTavern path traversal in static file route handler

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-34523-sillytavern-path-traversal-in-static-file-route-handler  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-02. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-34523 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.3 · Published 2026-04-02

SillyTavern is a web-based frontend for AI language models. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit a path traversal vulnerability to determine whether arbitrary files exist on the server's filesystem by observing HTTP response codes (404 for missing files, 403 for existing ones). While actual file contents cannot be read, this information disclosure could aid reconnaissance for further attacks targeting the server.

Technologies: [sillytavern (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/sillytavern). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-34523 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-34523 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-34523?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.3, published 2 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** sillytavern (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.17.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-34523?** Yes. sillytavern (npm): upgrade to 1.17.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-34523 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-34523?** Check whether you run sillytavern (npm) 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

- sillytavern (npm): upgrade to 1.17.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install sillytavern@1.17.0
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in the createRouteHandler function (src/users.js:947–963) that handles all user-data static file routes. The handler decodes percent-encoded URL parameters using decodeURIComponent() and then checks file existence with fs.existsSync(path.join(directory, filePath)) without proper path boundary validation. When an attacker sends a request like /characters/%2E%2E%2F%2E%2E%2FUsers/kirakira, it decodes to ../../Users/kirakira and path.join resolves it outside the intended directory. Although res.sendFile correctly blocks actual file delivery (returning 403), the fs.existsSync check runs first, and the differing HTTP responses (404 vs 403) leak whether the file exists. Affected routes include /characters/*, /user/files/*, /assets/*, /user/images/*, /backgrounds/*, and /User%20Avatars/*. No authentication is required. The issue was patched in version 1.17.0.

## Affected products

- SillyTavern SillyTavern <= 1.16.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-34523
- GHSA-525j-2hrj-m8fp

## Timeline

- 2026-03-30: disclosed
- 2026-03-28: patched: Version 1.17.0 released
- 2026-04-01: advisory

## References

- [https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern/security/advisories/GHSA-525j-2hrj-m8fp](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern/security/advisories/GHSA-525j-2hrj-m8fp)
- [https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern)
- [https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern/releases/tag/1.17.0](https://github.com/SillyTavern/SillyTavern/releases/tag/1.17.0)

## Related threats

- [SillyTavern SSRF in SearXNG search proxy API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-46372-sillytavern-ssrf-in-searxng-search-proxy-api)
- [SillyTavern SSRF in CORS proxy middleware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44652-sillytavern-ssrf-in-cors-proxy-middleware)
- [SillyTavern reflected XSS in CORS proxy middleware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44651-sillytavern-reflected-xss-in-cors-proxy-middleware)
- [SillyTavern path traversal and directory deletion in extensions API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44650-sillytavern-path-traversal-and-directory-deletion-in-extensions)
- [SillyTavern authentication bypass via SSO header injection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44649-sillytavern-authentication-bypass-via-sso-header-injection)