---
id: CVE-2020-36939
title: >-
  Cassandra Web 0.5.0 contains a directory traversal vulnerability that allows
  unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files by manipulating path
  traversal parameters
summary: >-
  Cassandra Web 0.5.0 contains a directory traversal vulnerability that allows
  unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files by manipulating path
  traversal parameters. Attackers can exploit the disabled Rack::Protection
  module to read …
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-22
vendor: avalanche123
product: Cassandra Web
affected:
  - cassandra_web 0.5.0
published: '2026-01-27'
updated: '2026-10-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-08T16:16:43.670'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36939'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/avalanche123/cassandra-web'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://rubygems.org/gems/cassandra-web/versions/0.5.0'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49362'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/cassandra-web-remote-file-read'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36939'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/cassandra-web/CVE-2020-36939.yml
  - url: 'https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-8mfv-xhp5-48q9'
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
  - ghsa
  - rubygems
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'yes'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-01-27T21:09:07.655383Z'
epss: 0.02977
epssPercentile: 0.87303
exploits:
  metasploit:
    - auxiliary/scanner/http/cassandra_web_file_read
  checkedAt: '2026-11-05T15:23:38.007Z'
exploitAvailable: true
aliases:
  - GHSA-8mfv-xhp5-48q9
ecosystem: rubygems
ingestedAt: '2026-09-08T19:08:49.635Z'
---

## Overview

Cassandra Web 0.5.0 contains a directory traversal vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files by manipulating path traversal parameters. Attackers can exploit the disabled Rack::Protection module to read sensitive system files like /etc/passwd and retrieve Apache Cassandra database credentials.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

## Package advisory (CVE-2020-36939)

Affected packages:

- `cassandra-web <= 0.5.0`

Source: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-8mfv-xhp5-48q9