Django Path Traversal Guide: Examples and Prevention

Django path traversal, also known as directory traversal, is a web security vulnerability that allows remote attackers to access files and directories outside the specified folder permissions by manipulating file paths using sequences like "dot-dot-slash" (../). This vulnerability can occur in Django's Server Side Includes (SSI) template tag, enabling attackers to exploit file paths to access sensitive files such as application source code, credentials, and other sensitive data, potentially gaining full server control. The article discusses the causes of this vulnerability, such as inadequate URL and path validation, and provides examples, including the use of SSI template tags and HTTP requests, to illustrate how attackers bypass security measures. To prevent such attacks, it recommends upgrading to the latest Django versions, which incorporate security patches, and validating user inputs by checking for common prefixes and using Python's `os.path` methods to ensure file requests are legitimate.