CVE-2020-36939

HIGH

Cassandra Web 0.5.0 - Path Traversal

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2020-36939. PoCs published by Jeremy Brown, Jeremy Brown, krastanoel, including Metasploit module auxiliary/scanner/http/cassandra_web_file_read.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit demonstrates a directory traversal vulnerability in Cassandra Web 0.5.0, allowing remote file read via crafted HTTP requests. It bypasses Rack::Protection to access arbitrary files, including sensitive data like credentials.

Description

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.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Jeremy Brown · pythonwebappslinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49362

This exploit demonstrates a directory traversal vulnerability in Cassandra Web 0.5.0, allowing remote file read via crafted HTTP requests. It bypasses Rack::Protection to access arbitrary files, including sensitive data like credentials.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Info Leak
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Cassandra Web 0.5.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target server · Cassandra Web 0.5.0 running on the target
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC
by Jeremy Brown, krastanoel · rubypoc
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/auxiliary/scanner/http/cassandra_web_file_read.rb

This Metasploit module exploits an unauthenticated directory traversal vulnerability in Cassandra Web 0.5.0 and earlier, allowing arbitrary file read with web server privileges. The exploit sends a crafted GET request with traversal sequences to read files like /etc/passwd.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Info Leak
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Cassandra Web version 0.5.0 and earlier
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target server · Cassandra Web service running on port 3000 (default)
devstral-2 · analyzed May 27, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4

Scores

CVSS v3 7.5
EPSS 0.5888
EPSS Percentile 98.3%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable yes
Technical Impact partial

Details

CWE
CWE-22
Status published
Products (1)
avalanche123/Cassandra Web 0.5.0
Published Jan 27, 2026
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026