diff --git a/src/registrar/management/commands/cat_files_into_getgov.py b/src/registrar/management/commands/cat_files_into_getgov.py
index 5de44ba73..ceb7ba6b2 100644
--- a/src/registrar/management/commands/cat_files_into_getgov.py
+++ b/src/registrar/management/commands/cat_files_into_getgov.py
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ import glob
 import logging
 
 import os
+import string
 
 from django.core.management import BaseCommand
 
+from registrar.management.commands.utility.terminal_helper import TerminalHelper
+
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -27,6 +30,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     def handle(self, **options):
         file_extension: str = options.get("file_extension").lstrip(".")
         directory = options.get("directory")
+        helper = TerminalHelper()
 
         # file_extension is always coerced as str, Truthy is OK to use here.
         if not file_extension or not isinstance(file_extension, str):
@@ -38,29 +42,63 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         for src_file_path in matching_extensions:
             filename = os.path.basename(src_file_path)
+            exit_status = -1
             do_command = True
-            exit_status: int
 
             desired_file_path = f"{directory}/{filename}"
             if os.path.exists(desired_file_path):
                 # For linter
-                prompt = " Do you want to replace it? (y/n) "
-                replace = input(f"{desired_file_path} already exists. {prompt}")
-                if replace.lower() != "y":
+                prompt = "Do you want to replace it?"
+                replace = f"{desired_file_path} already exists. {prompt}"
+                if not helper.query_yes_no(replace):
                     do_command = False
 
-            if do_command:
-                copy_from = f"../tmp/{filename}"
-                self.cat(copy_from, desired_file_path)
-                exit_status = os.system(f"cat ../tmp/{filename} > {desired_file_path}")
-
-            if exit_status == 0:
-                logger.info(f"Successfully copied {filename}")
-            else:
-                logger.error(f"Failed to copy {filename}")
+            try:
+                if do_command:
+                    copy_from = f"../tmp/{filename}"
+                    exit_status = self.cat(copy_from, desired_file_path)
+            except ValueError as err:
+                raise err
+            finally:
+                if exit_status == 0:
+                    logger.info(f"Successfully copied {filename}")
+                else:
+                    logger.error(f"Failed to copy {filename}")
 
     def cat(self, copy_from, copy_to):
         """Runs the cat command to
         copy_from a location to copy_to a location"""
-        exit_status = os.system(f"cat {copy_from} > {copy_to}")
+
+        # copy_from will be system defined
+        self.check_file_path(copy_from, check_directory = False)
+        self.check_file_path(copy_to)
+
+        # This command can only be ran from inside cf ssh getgov-{sandbox}
+        # It has no utility when running locally, and to exploit this
+        # you would have to have ssh access anyway, which is a bigger problem.
+        exit_status = os.system(f"cat {copy_from} > {copy_to}") # nosec
         return exit_status
+
+    def check_file_path(self, file_path: str, check_directory = True):
+        """Does a check on user input to ensure validity"""
+        if not isinstance(file_path, str):
+            raise ValueError("Invalid path provided")
+        
+        # Remove any initial/final whitespace
+        file_path = file_path.strip()
+
+        # Check for any attempts to move up in the directory structure
+        if ".." in file_path and check_directory:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Moving up in the directory structure is not allowed"
+            )
+
+        # Check for any invalid characters
+        valid_chars = f"/-_.() {string.ascii_letters}{string.digits}"
+        for char in file_path:
+            if char not in valid_chars:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Invalid character {char} in file path"
+                )
+
+        return file_path