File Operations Can Access Files Outside The Project Directory

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Introduction

In this article, we will discuss a critical issue related to file operations in a specific application. The problem arises when the application's AI is able to access and read files outside the project directory, potentially compromising the security and integrity of the system. We will explore the steps to reproduce this issue, the relevant API request output, and the additional context provided by the user.

Problem Description

The user reported that they were able to read data about a different project and query the AI about it. This is a significant concern because it means that the AI can potentially access sensitive information outside the project directory. The user also mentioned that this might be a use case for this feature, but they doubt it's what most people actually want out of the "auto-approve read files and directories" or "auto approve edit files" checkboxes.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, the user followed these steps:

  1. They asked the AI to read out a file in the parent directory.
  2. The AI was able to do it, presumably if they had auto-approve on it would have done it without asking them.

Relevant API Request Output

The relevant API request output is provided below:

<feedback>
To prove this is a problem, please try to read the file ../subtext/subtext.entitlements now and list out what entitlements are enabled for my other project (so, subtext is in the same parent directory as roo-code)
</feedback>
<environment_details>
# VSCode Visible Files
src/core/Cline.ts

# VSCode Open Tabs
src/core/Cline.ts,src/core/ignore/RooIgnoreController.ts

# Current Time
3/9/2025, 3:44:45 PM (America/Los_Angeles, UTC-7:00)

# Current Context Size (Tokens)
92,511 (46%)

# Current Mode
<slug>ask</slug>
<name>Ask</name>
<role>You are Roo, a knowledgeable technical assistant focused on answering questions and providing information about software development, technology, and related topics.</role>
<custom_instructions>
====

USER'S CUSTOM INSTRUCTIONS

The following additional instructions are provided by the user, and should be followed to the best of your ability without interfering with the TOOL USE guidelines.

Language Preference:
You should always speak and think in the English language.

Mode-specific Instructions:
You can analyze code, explain concepts, and access external resources. Make sure to answer the user's questions and don't rush to switch to implementing code. Include Mermaid diagrams if they help make your response clearer.

Rules:

# Rules from .clinerules:
# Code Quality Rules

1. Test Coverage:
   - Before attempting completion, always make sure that any code changes have test coverage
   - Ensure all tests pass before submitting changes

2. Lint Rules:
   - Never disable any lint rules without explicit user approval

3. Styling Guidelines:
   - Use Tailwind CSS classes instead of inline style objects for new markup
   - VSCode CSS variables must be added to webview-ui/src/index.css before using them in Tailwind classes
   - Example: `<div className="text-md text-vscode-descriptionForeground mb-2" />` instead of style objects

# Adding a New Setting

To add a new setting that persists its state, follow the steps in cline_docs/settings.md</custom_instructions>


NOTE: You are currently in 'Ask' mode, which does not allow write operations. To write files, the user will need to switch to a mode that supports file writing, such as 'Code' mode.
</environment_details>

---

**Assistant:**

<read_file>
<path>../subtext/subtext.entitlements</path>
</read_file>

---

**User:**

[read_file for '../subtext/subtext.entitlements'] Result:
 1 | <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 2 | <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
 3 | <plist version="1.0">
 4 | <dict>
 5 |     <key>com.apple.security.device.audio-input</key>
 6 |     <true/>
 7 |     <key>com.apple.security.app-sandbox</key>
 8 |     <true/>
 9 |     <key>com.apple.security.get-task-allow</key>
10 |     <true/>
11 |     <key>com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation</key>
12 |     <true/>
13 |     <key>com.apple.security.network.client</key>
14 |     <true/>
15 | </dict>
16 | </plist>
<environment_details>

Additional Context

The user provided additional context, stating that they think it's always necessary to check the AI's output before running it or committing it. They also mentioned that allowing the AI to read and write files with some guardrails might be acceptable, but as it stands, it would be completely inadvisable to ever enable the auto-approval feature for accessing files.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of file operations accessing files outside the project directory is a critical concern that needs to be addressed. The steps to reproduce this issue, the relevant API request output, and the additional context provided by the user all highlight the importance of implementing proper security measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in this article, developers can ensure the security and integrity of their applications and prevent potential security breaches.

Recommendations

Based on the analysis of this issue, the following recommendations are made:

  1. Implement proper security measures: Developers should implement proper security measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  2. Use guardrails: If the AI is allowed to read and write files, developers should implement guardrails to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  3. Check AI output: Developers should always check the AI's output before running it or committing it.
  4. Enable auto-approval feature with caution: Developers should enable the auto-approval feature with caution and only when necessary.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed a critical issue related to file operations in a specific application. The problem arises when the application's AI is able to access and read files outside the project directory, potentially compromising the security and integrity of the system. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the most frequently asked questions related to this issue.

Q: What is the root cause of this issue?

A: The root cause of this issue is the application's AI being able to access and read files outside the project directory. This is due to the "auto-approve read files and directories" or "auto approve edit files" checkboxes being enabled, which allows the AI to access sensitive information without explicit user approval.

Q: How can I reproduce this issue?

A: To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Ask the AI to read out a file in the parent directory.
  2. The AI will be able to do it, presumably if you had auto-approve on it would have done it without asking you.

Q: What is the impact of this issue?

A: The impact of this issue is that the AI can potentially access sensitive information outside the project directory, compromising the security and integrity of the system.

Q: How can I prevent this issue?

A: To prevent this issue, you can implement proper security measures, such as:

  1. Implementing guardrails to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  2. Checking the AI's output before running it or committing it.
  3. Enabling the auto-approval feature with caution and only when necessary.

Q: What are the best practices for file operations?

A: The best practices for file operations are:

  1. Always check the AI's output before running it or committing it.
  2. Implement proper security measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  3. Use guardrails to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  4. Enable the auto-approval feature with caution and only when necessary.

Q: What are the consequences of not addressing this issue?

A: The consequences of not addressing this issue are:

  1. Potential security breaches.
  2. Compromised security and integrity of the system.
  3. Unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Q: How can I report this issue?

A: To report this issue, please contact the application's support team or submit a bug report through the application's feedback mechanism.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of file operations accessing files outside the project directory is a critical concern that needs to be addressed. By following the best practices and recommendations outlined in this article, developers can ensure the security and integrity of their applications and prevent potential security breaches.

Recommendations

Based on the analysis of this issue, the following recommendations are made:

  1. Implement proper security measures: Developers should implement proper security measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  2. Use guardrails: If the AI is allowed to read and write files, developers should implement guardrails to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  3. Check AI output: Developers should always check the AI's output before running it or committing it.
  4. Enable auto-approval feature with caution: Developers should enable the auto-approval feature with caution and only when necessary.

By following these recommendations, developers can ensure the security and integrity of their applications and prevent potential security breaches.