diff --git a/security/sshkey.rb b/security/sshkey.rb
index eb3f0d0..7cf024d 100644
--- a/security/sshkey.rb
+++ b/security/sshkey.rb
@@ -142,7 +142,14 @@ def write_key_to_disk(key, identity)
         end
 
         if File.directory?(publickey_dir)
-          if File.exists?(old_keyfile = File.join(publickey_dir, "#{identity}_pub.pem"))
+          # Reject identity if it would result in directory traversal.
+          old_keyfile = File.join(File.expand_path(publickey_dir), "#{identity}_pub.pem")
+          unless File.expand_path(old_keyfile) == old_keyfile
+            Log.warn("Identity returned by server would result in directory traversal. Not writing key to disk.")
+            return
+          end
+
+          if File.exists?(old_keyfile)
             old_key = File.read(old_keyfile).chomp
 
             unless old_key == key
@@ -150,12 +157,12 @@ def write_key_to_disk(key, identity)
                 Log.warn("Public key sent from '%s' does not match the stored key. Not overwriting." % identity)
               else
                 Log.warn("Public key sent from '%s' does not match the stored key. Overwriting." % identity)
-                File.open(File.join(publickey_dir, "#{identity}_pub.pem"), 'w') { |f| f.puts key }
+                File.open(old_keyfile, 'w') { |f| f.puts key }
               end
             end
           else
             Log.debug("Discovered a new public key for '%s'. Writing to '%s'" % [identity, publickey_dir])
-            File.open(File.join(publickey_dir, "#{identity}_pub.pem"), 'w') { |f| f.puts key }
+            File.open(old_keyfile, 'w') { |f| f.puts key }
           end
         else
           raise("Cannot write public key to '%s'. Directory does not exist." % publickey_dir)
diff --git a/spec/security/sshkey_spec.rb b/spec/security/sshkey_spec.rb
index f6a6ec7..09e8030 100644
--- a/spec/security/sshkey_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/security/sshkey_spec.rb
@@ -280,13 +280,23 @@ class Verifier; end
           }.to raise_error
         end
 
+        it 'should fail if identity would result in directory traversal' do
+          @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('learn_public_keys').returns('1')
+          @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('publickey_dir').returns('ssh/pkd')
+          File.stubs(:directory?).with('ssh/pkd').returns(true)
+          Log.expects(:warn)
+          File.expects(:open).never
+          @plugin.send(:write_key_to_disk, 'ssh-rsa abcd', '../test')
+        end
+
         it 'should write the public key to disk if its the first time its been seen' do
           @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('learn_public_keys').returns('1')
           @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('publickey_dir').returns('ssh/pkd')
           File.stubs(:directory?).with('ssh/pkd').returns(true)
-          File.stubs(:exists?).with('ssh/pkd/rspec_pub.pem').returns(false)
+          full_path = File.join(File.expand_path('ssh/pkd'), 'rspec_pub.pem')
+          File.stubs(:exists?).with(full_path).returns(false)
           file = mock
-          File.expects(:open).with('ssh/pkd/rspec_pub.pem', 'w').yields(file)
+          File.expects(:open).with(full_path, 'w').yields(file)
           file.expects(:puts).with('ssh-rsa abcd')
           @plugin.send(:write_key_to_disk, 'ssh-rsa abcd', 'rspec')
         end
@@ -296,8 +306,9 @@ class Verifier; end
           @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('publickey_dir').returns('ssh/pkd')
           @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('overwrite_stored_keys', 'n').returns('n')
           File.stubs(:directory?).with('ssh/pkd').returns(true)
-          File.stubs(:exists?).with('ssh/pkd/rspec_pub.pem').returns(true)
-          File.stubs(:read).with('ssh/pkd/rspec_pub.pem').returns('ssh-rsa dcba')
+          full_path = File.join(File.expand_path('ssh/pkd'), 'rspec_pub.pem')
+          File.stubs(:exists?).with(full_path).returns(true)
+          File.stubs(:read).with(full_path).returns('ssh-rsa dcba')
           Log.expects(:warn)
           File.expects(:open).never
           @plugin.send(:write_key_to_disk, 'ssh-rsa abcd', 'rspec')
@@ -308,10 +319,11 @@ class Verifier; end
           @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('publickey_dir').returns('ssh/pkd')
           @plugin.stubs(:lookup_config_option).with('overwrite_stored_keys', 'n').returns('1')
           File.stubs(:directory?).with('ssh/pkd').returns(true)
-          File.stubs(:exists?).with('ssh/pkd/rspec_pub.pem').returns(true)
-          File.stubs(:read).with('ssh/pkd/rspec_pub.pem').returns('ssh-rsa dcba')
+          full_path = File.join(File.expand_path('ssh/pkd'), 'rspec_pub.pem')
+          File.stubs(:exists?).with(full_path).returns(true)
+          File.stubs(:read).with(full_path).returns('ssh-rsa dcba')
           file = mock
-          File.expects(:open).with('ssh/pkd/rspec_pub.pem', 'w').yields(file)
+          File.expects(:open).with(full_path, 'w').yields(file)
           file.expects(:puts).with('ssh-rsa abcd')
           Log.expects(:warn)
           @plugin.send(:write_key_to_disk, 'ssh-rsa abcd', 'rspec')