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CVE Record

CVE-2019-14452: Sigil before 0.9.16 is vulnerable to a directory traversal, allowing attackers to write arbitrary files via...

Sigil before 0.9.16 is vulnerable to a directory traversal, allowing attackers to write arbitrary files via a ../ (dot dot slash) in a ZIP archive entry that is mishandled during extraction.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-14452 affects Sigil before 0.9.16. A malicious archive could escape the intended extraction folder and write files elsewhere on the system. Business impact depends on where Sigil runs and what files can be overwritten, but the issue is most relevant where users process untrusted EPUB or ZIP content.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted remediation item, not an emergency. Prioritize systems where Sigil handles externally supplied files or runs in automated workflows, because arbitrary file writes can become more serious depending on permissions and file targets.

Technical view

The vulnerability is a ZIP directory traversal issue in Sigil archive extraction. Archive entries containing parent-directory path components were mishandled, allowing arbitrary file writes outside the target directory. Public sources identify the fix in Sigil 0.9.16 and related upstream commits. No CVSS score or CWE is provided in the source bundle.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to systems running Sigil before 0.9.16, especially desktop or build environments that open or process untrusted ebook/archive content. The bundle does not identify broader affected products beyond Sigil.

Exploitation context

The public description and referenced research discuss a malicious ZIP archive entry causing file writes outside extraction paths. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation, so active exploitation should not be assumed.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports directory traversal during ZIP extraction and remediation in Sigil 0.9.16. Severity metadata is incomplete: no CVSS, CWE, or KEV listing is provided. Avoid asserting code execution unless a separate, cited source establishes a reliable path from file write to execution.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Sigil to version 0.9.16 or later.
  • Apply Ubuntu USN-4085-1 packages where Ubuntu Sigil packages are used.
  • Restrict handling of untrusted EPUB or ZIP content until upgraded.
  • Check upstream Sigil guidance for any additional platform-specific remediation.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed Sigil versions and flag anything before 0.9.16.
  • Confirm package source and update status on Ubuntu-managed systems.
  • Review archive extraction logic for parent-directory path rejection.
  • Verify security updates using vendor release notes and package changelogs.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
8

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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description · low confidence lookup

File access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2019-14452 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.