feat(security): enhance file path validation and implement non-root D… (#5474)

* feat(security): enhance file path validation and implement non-root Docker user

- Validate resolved full file paths including workspace boundaries in SecureFileStore
- Resolve paths before validation in readFile and writeFile operations
- Run Docker container as non-root flowise user (uid/gid 1001)
- Apply proper file ownership and permissions for application files

Prevents path traversal attacks and follows container security best practices

* Add sensitive system directory validation and Flowise internal file protection

* Update Dockerfile to use default node user

* update validation patterns to include additional system binary directories (/usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /usr/local/bin)

* added isSafeBrowserExecutable function to validate browser executable paths for Playwright and Puppeteer loaders

---------

Co-authored-by: taraka-vishnumolakala <taraka.vishnumolakala@workday.com>
Co-authored-by: Henry Heng <henryheng@flowiseai.com>
Co-authored-by: Henry <hzj94@hotmail.com>

Dockerfile

@@ -5,33 +5,37 @@
 # docker run -d -p 3000:3000 flowise
 
 FROM node:20-alpine
-RUN apk add --update libc6-compat python3 make g++
-# needed for pdfjs-dist
-RUN apk add --no-cache build-base cairo-dev pango-dev
 
-# Install Chromium
-RUN apk add --no-cache chromium
-
-# Install curl for container-level health checks
-# Fixes: https://github.com/FlowiseAI/Flowise/issues/4126
-RUN apk add --no-cache curl
-
-#install PNPM globaly
-RUN npm install -g pnpm
+# Install system dependencies and build tools
+RUN apk update && \
+    apk add --no-cache \
+        libc6-compat \
+        python3 \
+        make \
+        g++ \
+        build-base \
+        cairo-dev \
+        pango-dev \
+        chromium \
+        curl && \
+    npm install -g pnpm
 
 ENV PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD=true
 ENV PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH=/usr/bin/chromium-browser
 
 ENV NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=8192
 
-WORKDIR /usr/src
+WORKDIR /usr/src/flowise
 
 # Copy app source
 COPY . .
 
-RUN pnpm install
+# Install dependencies and build
+RUN pnpm install && \
+    pnpm build
 
-RUN pnpm build
+# Switch to non-root user (node user already exists in node:20-alpine)
+USER node
 
 EXPOSE 3000
 

packages/components/nodes/documentloaders/Playwright/Playwright.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { test } from 'linkifyjs'
 import { omit } from 'lodash'
 import { handleEscapeCharacters, INodeOutputsValue, webCrawl, xmlScrape } from '../../../src'
 import { ICommonObject, INode, INodeData, INodeParams } from '../../../src/Interface'
+import { isSafeBrowserExecutable } from '../../../src/validator'
 
 class Playwright_DocumentLoaders implements INode {
     label: string
@@ -190,11 +191,17 @@ class Playwright_DocumentLoaders implements INode {
         async function playwrightLoader(url: string): Promise<Document[] | undefined> {
             try {
                 let docs = []
+
+                const executablePath = process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_EXECUTABLE_PATH
+                if (!isSafeBrowserExecutable(executablePath)) {
+                    throw new Error(`Invalid or unsafe browser executable path: ${executablePath || 'undefined'}. `)
+                }
+
                 const config: PlaywrightWebBaseLoaderOptions = {
                     launchOptions: {
                         args: ['--no-sandbox'],
                         headless: true,
-                        executablePath: process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_EXECUTABLE_FILE_PATH
+                        executablePath: executablePath
                     }
                 }
                 if (waitUntilGoToOption) {

packages/components/nodes/documentloaders/Puppeteer/Puppeteer.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { omit } from 'lodash'
 import { PuppeteerLifeCycleEvent } from 'puppeteer'
 import { handleEscapeCharacters, INodeOutputsValue, webCrawl, xmlScrape } from '../../../src'
 import { ICommonObject, INode, INodeData, INodeParams } from '../../../src/Interface'
+import { isSafeBrowserExecutable } from '../../../src/validator'
 
 class Puppeteer_DocumentLoaders implements INode {
     label: string
@@ -181,11 +182,17 @@ class Puppeteer_DocumentLoaders implements INode {
         async function puppeteerLoader(url: string): Promise<Document[] | undefined> {
             try {
                 let docs: Document[] = []
+
+                const executablePath = process.env.PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH
+                if (!isSafeBrowserExecutable(executablePath)) {
+                    throw new Error(`Invalid or unsafe browser executable path: ${executablePath || 'undefined'}. `)
+                }
+
                 const config: PuppeteerWebBaseLoaderOptions = {
                     launchOptions: {
                         args: ['--no-sandbox'],
                         headless: 'new',
-                        executablePath: process.env.PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_FILE_PATH
+                        executablePath: executablePath
                     }
                 }
                 if (waitUntilGoToOption) {

packages/components/src/SecureFileStore.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { Serializable } from '@langchain/core/load/serializable'
-import { NodeFileStore } from 'langchain/stores/file/node'
-import { isUnsafeFilePath, isWithinWorkspace } from './validator'
-import * as path from 'path'
 import * as fs from 'fs'
+import { NodeFileStore } from 'langchain/stores/file/node'
+import * as path from 'path'
+import { isSensitiveSystemPath, isUnsafeFilePath, isWithinWorkspace } from './validator'
 
 /**
  * Security configuration for file operations
@@ -65,28 +65,50 @@ export class SecureFileStore extends Serializable {
             throw new Error(`Workspace directory does not exist: ${this.config.workspacePath}`)
         }
 
+        // Validate that workspace path is not a sensitive system directory
+        // This prevents setting workspace to /usr/bin, /etc, etc. which would allow access to system files
+        if (isSensitiveSystemPath(path.normalize(this.config.workspacePath))) {
+            throw new Error(`Workspace path cannot be set to sensitive system directory: ${this.config.workspacePath}`)
+        }
+
         // Initialize the underlying NodeFileStore with workspace path
         this.nodeFileStore = new NodeFileStore(this.config.workspacePath)
     }
 
     /**
      * Validates a file path against security policies
+     * @param filePath The raw user-provided file path (relative to workspace)
+     * @param resolvedPath The resolved absolute path (for extension validation)
      */
-    private validateFilePath(filePath: string): void {
-        // Check for unsafe path patterns
+    private validateFilePath(filePath: string, resolvedPath: string): void {
+        // Validate the raw user input for unsafe patterns (path traversal, absolute paths, etc.)
+        // This must be done on the raw input, not the resolved path, because isUnsafeFilePath
+        // is designed to detect absolute paths in user input
         if (isUnsafeFilePath(filePath)) {
             throw new Error(`Unsafe file path detected: ${filePath}`)
         }
 
-        // Enforce workspace boundaries if enabled
+        // Enforce workspace boundaries if enabled (this handles path resolution internally)
         if (this.config.enforceWorkspaceBoundaries) {
             if (!isWithinWorkspace(filePath, this.config.workspacePath)) {
                 throw new Error(`File path outside workspace boundaries: ${filePath}`)
             }
         }
 
-        // Check file extension
-        const ext = path.extname(filePath).toLowerCase()
+        // Prevent access to Flowise internal files (any path containing .flowise)
+        const normalizedResolved = path.normalize(resolvedPath)
+        if (normalizedResolved.includes('.flowise')) {
+            throw new Error(`Access to Flowise internal files denied: ${filePath}`)
+        }
+
+        // Validate that the resolved path does not access sensitive system directories
+        // This prevents access to system files even if workspace is set to a system directory
+        if (isSensitiveSystemPath(normalizedResolved)) {
+            throw new Error(`Access to sensitive system directory denied: ${filePath}`)
+        }
+
+        // Check file extension on the resolved path to get the actual extension
+        const ext = path.extname(resolvedPath).toLowerCase()
 
         // Check blocked extensions
         if (this.config.blockedExtensions.includes(ext)) {
@@ -113,7 +135,10 @@ export class SecureFileStore extends Serializable {
      * Reads a file with security validation
      */
     async readFile(filePath: string): Promise<string> {
-        this.validateFilePath(filePath)
+        // Resolve the full path for extension validation
+        const resolvedPath = path.resolve(this.config.workspacePath, filePath)
+        // Validate the raw user input (not the resolved path) to avoid false positives
+        this.validateFilePath(filePath, resolvedPath)
 
         try {
             return await this.nodeFileStore.readFile(filePath)
@@ -127,12 +152,16 @@ export class SecureFileStore extends Serializable {
      * Writes a file with security validation
      */
     async writeFile(filePath: string, contents: string): Promise<void> {
-        this.validateFilePath(filePath)
         this.validateFileSize(contents)
 
+        // Resolve the full path for extension validation and directory creation
+        const resolvedPath = path.resolve(this.config.workspacePath, filePath)
+        // Validate the raw user input (not the resolved path) to avoid false positives
+        this.validateFilePath(filePath, resolvedPath)
+
         try {
             // Ensure the directory exists
-            const dir = path.dirname(path.resolve(this.config.workspacePath, filePath))
+            const dir = path.dirname(resolvedPath)
             if (!fs.existsSync(dir)) {
                 fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true })
             }

packages/components/src/validator.ts

@@ -70,6 +70,35 @@ export const isUnsafeFilePath = (filePath: string): boolean => {
     return dangerousPatterns.some((pattern) => pattern.test(filePath))
 }
 
+/**
+ * Validates if a resolved path accesses sensitive system directories
+ * Uses pattern-based detection to identify known sensitive system directories
+ * at root level or one level deep, while allowing legitimate paths like /usr/src
+ * @param {string} resolvedPath The resolved absolute path to validate
+ * @returns {boolean} True if path accesses sensitive system directory, false otherwise
+ */
+export const isSensitiveSystemPath = (resolvedPath: string): boolean => {
+    if (!resolvedPath || typeof resolvedPath !== 'string') {
+        return false
+    }
+
+    // Pattern-based detection for known sensitive system directories:
+    // Blocks obvious system directories while allowing legitimate paths like /usr/src, /usr/local/src, /opt, etc.
+    // 1. At root level (e.g., /etc, /sys, /bin, /sbin) - one segment after root
+    // 2. One level deep (e.g., /etc/passwd, /sys/kernel, /var/log) - two segments total
+    // 3. Specific sensitive subdirectories (e.g., /var/log, /var/run) - two segments with specific parent
+    // 4. System binary directories (e.g., /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /usr/local/bin) - prevents overwriting system executables
+    const sensitiveSystemPatterns = [
+        /^[/\\](etc|sys|proc|dev|boot|root|bin|sbin)([/\\]|$)/i, // Root level: /etc, /sys, /proc, /bin, /sbin, etc.
+        /^[/\\](etc|sys|proc|dev|boot|root|bin|sbin)[/\\][^/\\]*$/i, // One level deep: /etc/passwd, /sys/kernel, /bin/sh, etc.
+        /^[/\\]var[/\\](log|run|lib|spool|mail)([/\\]|$)/i, // Sensitive /var subdirectories: /var/log, /var/run, etc.
+        /^[/\\]usr[/\\](bin|sbin)([/\\]|$)/i, // System binary directories: /usr/bin, /usr/sbin
+        /^[/\\]usr[/\\]local[/\\](bin|sbin)([/\\]|$)/i // Local system binaries: /usr/local/bin, /usr/local/sbin
+    ]
+
+    return sensitiveSystemPatterns.some((pattern) => pattern.test(resolvedPath))
+}
+
 /**
  * Validates if a file path is within the allowed workspace boundaries
  * @param {string} filePath The file path to validate
@@ -102,3 +131,87 @@ export const isWithinWorkspace = (filePath: string, workspacePath: string): bool
         return false
     }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Validates if a browser executable path is safe to use
+ * Prevents arbitrary code execution through environment variable manipulation
+ * @param {string} executablePath The browser executable path to validate
+ * @returns {boolean} True if path is safe, false otherwise
+ */
+export const isSafeBrowserExecutable = (executablePath: string | undefined): boolean => {
+    if (!executablePath) {
+        return true // If not specified, let browser library use its default
+    }
+
+    if (typeof executablePath !== 'string' || executablePath.trim() === '') {
+        return false
+    }
+
+    const path = require('path')
+    const fs = require('fs')
+
+    try {
+        // Normalize the path
+        const normalizedPath = path.normalize(executablePath)
+
+        // Must be an absolute path
+        if (!path.isAbsolute(normalizedPath)) {
+            return false
+        }
+
+        // Allowed browser executable locations (system-managed only)
+        const allowedPaths = [
+            // Linux/Unix Chromium/Chrome paths
+            '/usr/bin/chromium',
+            '/usr/bin/chromium-browser',
+            '/usr/bin/google-chrome',
+            '/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable',
+            '/usr/bin/chrome',
+            '/snap/bin/chromium',
+            // macOS Chrome/Chromium paths
+            '/Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome',
+            '/Applications/Chromium.app/Contents/MacOS/Chromium',
+            // Windows Chrome/Chromium paths (normalized with forward slashes)
+            'C:/Program Files/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe',
+            'C:/Program Files (x86)/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe',
+            'C:/Program Files/Chromium/Application/chrome.exe',
+            // Firefox paths
+            '/usr/bin/firefox',
+            '/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox',
+            'C:/Program Files/Mozilla Firefox/firefox.exe',
+            'C:/Program Files (x86)/Mozilla Firefox/firefox.exe'
+        ]
+
+        // Normalize allowed paths for comparison (handle Windows backslashes)
+        const normalizedAllowedPaths = allowedPaths.map((p) => path.normalize(p))
+
+        // Check if the path exactly matches one of the allowed paths
+        const isAllowedPath = normalizedAllowedPaths.some((allowedPath) => normalizedPath.toLowerCase() === allowedPath.toLowerCase())
+
+        if (!isAllowedPath) {
+            return false
+        }
+
+        // Additional security: Verify file exists and is executable (where applicable)
+        // This prevents using a path before malicious file is written
+        try {
+            if (fs.existsSync(normalizedPath)) {
+                const stats = fs.statSync(normalizedPath)
+                // On Unix-like systems, check if file is executable
+                if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
+                    // Check if file has execute permissions (using bitwise AND)
+                    // 0o111 checks for execute permission for user, group, or others
+                    return (stats.mode & 0o111) !== 0
+                }
+                return stats.isFile()
+            }
+            // If file doesn't exist, reject it (prevents race conditions)
+            return false
+        } catch {
+            return false
+        }
+    } catch (error) {
+        // If any error occurs during validation, deny access
+        return false
+    }
+}