GHSA-747p-wmpv-9c78
MEDIUMAWS CLI: cli_history database does not restrict file permissions on Unix systems
Blast Radius
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Description
Summary AWS CLI is a command line tool for interacting with AWS services. When the cli_history feature is enabled, the history database file is created with default permissions, potentially allowing other local users on a multi-user system to read the file.
Impact When cli_history is enabled, AWS CLI stores command history including command parameters and API request/response data in a local SQLite database. On multi-user Unix systems, the default file permissions may allow other local users to read this file, potentially exposing sensitive information. This issue only affects users who have explicitly enabled cli_history, which is disabled by default.
Impacted versions: 1.13.0 - 1.44.37 (v1), 2.0.0 - 2.33.20 (v2)
Patches This issue has been addressed in the latest versions 2.33.21 and 1.44.38 of AWS CLI. We recommend upgrading to the latest version and ensuring any forked or derivative code is patched to incorporate the new fixes.
Workarounds
Users can manually set restrictive permissions on the history database file. Alternatively, disable cli_history by removing cli_history = enabled from the AWS config file.
Resources If there are any questions or comments about this advisory, contact AWS Security via the vulnerability reporting page or directly via email to [email protected]. Please do not create a public GitHub issue.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | awscli | ≥ 1.13.0&&< 1.44.38 | 1.44.38 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for awscli. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update awscli to 1.44.38 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-747p-wmpv-9c78 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-747p-wmpv-9c78 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-747p-wmpv-9c78. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-747p-wmpv-9c78 in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-747p-wmpv-9c78 across PyPI dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.