github_osv/GHSA-v856-2rf8-9f28
pydicom has a path traversal in FileSet/DICOMDIR ReferencedFileID allows file access outside the File-set root
### Summary
A crafted `DICOMDIR` can set `ReferencedFileID` to a path outside the File-set root. `pydicom` resolves the path only to confirm that it exists, but does not verify that the resolved path remains under the File-set root. Subsequent public `FileSet` operations such as `copy()`, `write()`, and `remove()+write(use_existing=True)` use that unchecked path in file I/O operations. This allows arbitrary file read/copy and, in some flows, move/delete outside the File-set root.
### Details
Verified on `pydicom 3.1.0.dev0`.
Relevant logic is in `src/pydicom/fileset.py`:
- `RecordNode._file_id` converts `ReferencedFileID` directly to `Path(...)`
- `FileSet.load()` checks only `(root / file_id).resolve(strict=True)` to confirm existence
- `FileSet.load()` does not verify that the final resolved path is contained within the File-set root
- `FileInstance.path` returns `self.file_set.path / self.node._file_id`
- `FileSet.copy()` uses `shutil.copyfile(instance.path, dst)`
- `FileSet.write()` uses `Path(instance.path).unlink()` and `shutil.move(...)`
Because there is no containment check such as `resolved.relative_to(root.resolve(strict=True))`, a malicious `DICOMDIR` can reference:
- absolute paths such as `/etc/passwd`
- traversal paths such as `../...`
- syntactically conformant file IDs that escape via symlinks
This is not limited to obviously invalid VR input. Even when `pydicom` emits warnings for invalid `ReferencedFileID` values, the operation is not blocked. I also confirmed a symlink-based variant using a conformant file ID.
A realistic server-side scenario is:
1. a user uploads a DICOM File-set zip
2. the server loads the uploaded `DICOMDIR` using `FileSet`
3. the server re-exports or reorganizes the File-set using `FileSet.copy()` or `FileSet.write()`
4. a server-local file referenced by the malicious `DICOMDIR` is included in the exported result
### PoC
Minimal reproduction:
1. Copy a sample File-set that contains a valid `DICOMDIR`
2. Modify one `DirectoryRecordSequence` item so that `ReferencedFileID = "/etc/passwd"` (or `/tmp/secret.txt`)
3. Load it with `FileSet(ds)` or `FileSet(path_to_dicomdir)`
4. Call `FileSet.copy(new_root)`
5. Observe that the exported File-set contains the contents of the referenced external file
Example:
```python
from pathlib import Path
from tempfile import mkdtemp
import shutil
from pydicom import dcmread
from pydicom.fileset import FileSet
base = Path("src/pydicom/data/test_files/dicomdirtests")
root = Path(mkdtemp(prefix="fsroot_"))
out = Path(mkdtemp(prefix="fsout_"))
shutil.copy2(base / "DICOMDIR", root / "DICOMDIR")
for d in ("77654033", "98892003", "98892001"):
shutil.copytree(base / d, root / d)
ds = dcmread(root / "DICOMDIR")
item = next(x for x in ds.DirectoryRecordSequence if "ReferencedFileID" in x)
item.ReferencedFileID = "/etc/passwd"
fs = FileSet(ds)
fs.copy(out)
```
I also verified the issue in a simple web import/export demo where an uploaded malicious File-set caused /etc/passwd to be copied into the exported result.
If useful, I can provide the exact malicious sample and the demo environment separately.
### Impact
This is a path traversal / root containment bypass in FileSet handling.
Observed impact:
arbitrary file read/copy outside the File-set root via FileSet.copy()
arbitrary file move outside the File-set root via FileSet.write()
arbitrary file delete outside the File-set root via FileSet.remove(...); write(use_existing=True)
Affected applications are those that accept untrusted DICOMDIR / File-set input and then call public FileSet workflows such as load(), copy(), write(), or remove().
A realistic impact is server-side file disclosure in import/export workflows.
gitlab/pypi/pydicom/CVE-2026-32711
pydicom has a path traversal in FileSet/DICOMDIR ReferencedFileID allows file access outside the File-set root
A crafted `DICOMDIR` can set `ReferencedFileID` to a path outside the File-set root. `pydicom` resolves the path only to confirm that it exists, but does not verify that the resolved path remains under the File-set root. Subsequent public `FileSet` operations such as `copy()`, `write()`, and `remove()+write(use_existing=True)` use that unchecked path in file I/O operations. This allows arbitrary file read/copy and, in some flows, move/delete outside the File-set root.
pypa/pydicom/PYSEC-2026-2266
pydicom is a pure Python package for working with DICOM files. Versions 2.0.0-rc.1 through 3.0.1 are vulnerable to Path Traversal through a maliciously crafted DICOMDIR ReferencedFileID when it is set to a path outside the File-set root. pydicom resolves the path only to confirm that it exists, but does not verify that the resolved path remains under the File-set root. Subsequent public FileSet operations such as copy(), write(), and remove()+write(use_existing=True) use that unchecked path in file I/O operations. This allows arbitrary file read/copy and, in some flows, move/delete outside the File-set root. This issue has been fixed in version 3.0.2.
pysec/PYSEC-2026-2266
pydicom is a pure Python package for working with DICOM files. Versions 2.0.0-rc.1 through 3.0.1 are vulnerable to Path Traversal through a maliciously crafted DICOMDIR ReferencedFileID when it is set to a path outside the File-set root. pydicom resolves the path only to confirm that it exists, but does not verify that the resolved path remains under the File-set root. Subsequent public FileSet operations such as copy(), write(), and remove()+write(use_existing=True) use that unchecked path in file I/O operations. This allows arbitrary file read/copy and, in some flows, move/delete outside the File-set root. This issue has been fixed in version 3.0.2.