issue: Temporary Chat File Persistence Violates Confidentiality and Defeats Mode Purpose #5583

New Issue

2025-11-11T16:25:13-06:00

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-11 16:25:13 -06:00

Originally created by @Ashitaka06 on GitHub (Jun 18, 2025).

Check Existing Issues

I have searched the existing issues and discussions.
I am using the latest version of Open WebUI.

Installation Method

Docker

Open WebUI Version

0.6.15

Ollama Version (if applicable)

No response

Operating System

Ubuntu 22.04

Browser (if applicable)

No response

Confirmation

I have read and followed all instructions in README.md.
I am using the latest version of both Open WebUI and Ollama.
I have included the browser console logs.
I have included the Docker container logs.
I have provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.
I have clearly listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc).
I have documented step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation. My steps:
Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used,
Specify exact install/launch/configure commands,
List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed),
Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed,
Include any files or environmental changes,
Identify the expected and actual result at each stage,
Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue.

Expected Behavior

All files uploaded during a temporary chat session are immediately deleted from the backend as soon as the user exits temporary mode.
No file metadata, cache, or artifacts from a temporary chat remain accessible or persisted.

Actual Behavior

Files uploaded in a temporary chat persist in the backend storage even after exiting temporary mode.
Any user with db access can still read those files long after the session has ended, despite the “temporary” label.

Steps to Reproduce

Enable Temporary Chat mode.
Upload any file (e.g., sensitive-document.pdf).
Exit temporary chat.
Inspect the file table of the backend storage (SQLite, PostreSQL, etc) — you will find sensitive-document.pdf still present.

Logs & Screenshots

No application errors are thrown; behavior is silent and non‑obvious.

Additional Information

A prior discussion on this topic received little visibility despite its critical importance: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/discussions/12369
Persisting files in “temporary” mode breaks compliance for GDPR, HIPAA, and other data‑protection regimes.
If true ephemeral behavior cannot be guaranteed, the “Temporary Chat” feature should be deprecated or renamed to avoid misleading users.

Originally created by @Ashitaka06 on GitHub (Jun 18, 2025). ### Check Existing Issues - [x] I have searched the existing issues and discussions. - [x] I am using the latest version of Open WebUI. ### Installation Method Docker ### Open WebUI Version 0.6.15 ### Ollama Version (if applicable) _No response_ ### Operating System Ubuntu 22.04 ### Browser (if applicable) _No response_ ### Confirmation - [x] I have read and followed all instructions in `README.md`. - [x] I am using the latest version of **both** Open WebUI and Ollama. - [x] I have included the browser console logs. - [x] I have included the Docker container logs. - [x] I have **provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.** - [x] I have clearly **listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup** (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc). - [x] I have documented **step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation**. My steps: - Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used, - Specify exact install/launch/configure commands, - List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed), - Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed, - Include any files or environmental changes, - Identify the expected and actual result at each stage, - Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue. ### Expected Behavior - All files uploaded during a temporary chat session are immediately deleted from the backend as soon as the user exits temporary mode. - No file metadata, cache, or artifacts from a temporary chat remain accessible or persisted. ### Actual Behavior - Files uploaded in a temporary chat persist in the backend storage even after exiting temporary mode. - Any user with db access can still read those files long after the session has ended, despite the “temporary” label. ### Steps to Reproduce - Enable Temporary Chat mode. - Upload any file (e.g., sensitive-document.pdf). - Exit temporary chat. - Inspect the file table of the backend storage (SQLite, PostreSQL, etc) — you will find sensitive-document.pdf still present. ### Logs & Screenshots No application errors are thrown; behavior is silent and non‑obvious. ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d8d886d4-1fa4-4d48-8deb-ab5dc792e18c) ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/60215258-4d16-41ed-93de-baa29af93c2a) ### Additional Information - A prior discussion on this topic received little visibility despite its critical importance: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/discussions/12369 - Persisting files in “temporary” mode breaks compliance for GDPR, HIPAA, and other data‑protection regimes. - If true ephemeral behavior cannot be guaranteed, the “Temporary Chat” feature should be deprecated or renamed to avoid misleading users.

GiteaMirror added the bug label 2025-11-11 16:25:13 -06:00

GiteaMirror closed this issue

2025-11-11 16:25:13 -06:00

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-11 16:25:13 -06:00

@tjbck commented on GitHub (Jun 18, 2025):

Temp chat here means the messages won't be saved, if you were to upload a file it'll have to be processed from the backend. Perhaps it'll be a good idea to display a confirmation dialog if you were to upload a file in a temp chat. Will take a look.

@tjbck commented on GitHub (Jun 18, 2025): ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/7910eab3-45cc-4598-8b12-2d9f5f7636b3) Temp chat here means the messages won't be saved, if you were to upload a file it'll have to be processed from the backend. Perhaps it'll be a good idea to display a confirmation dialog if you were to upload a file in a temp chat. Will take a look.