CVE-2021-27230Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated PHP execution via translation key injection

Published Mar 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

PHP code injection in ExpressionEngine before 5.4.2 and 6.x before 6.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code. Translate::save() inserts unsanitized POST parameter names into a PHP array source string and writes it to system/user/language/[lang]/[file]_lang.php. Access to the Control Panel translation utility is required, after which the generated language file executes attacker-supplied PHP on the server.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability2.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

PHP code injection in ExpressionEngine before 5.4.2 and 6.x before 6.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code. Translate::save() inserts unsanitized POST parameter names into a PHP array source string and writes it to system/user/language/[lang]/[file]_lang.php. Access to the Control Panel translation utility is required, after which the generated language file executes attacker-supplied PHP on the server.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-27230
Published
Mar 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-94, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 15, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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