PHP code execution via unescaped template names
Published May 24, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
Code injection in Smarty before 3.1.45 and 4.0.0 through 4.1.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary PHP via crafted template names. The block and include compilers place attacker-controlled block names and include source paths inside generated PHP comments without neutralizing a closing */ sequence, so injected text becomes executable PHP. Reachability requires control over template authorship; successful exploitation runs PHP with the privileges of the hosting application.
Summary
What happened
Code injection in Smarty before 3.1.45 and 4.0.0 through 4.1.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary PHP via crafted template names. The block and include compilers place attacker-controlled block names and include source paths inside generated PHP comments without neutralizing a closing */ sequence, so injected text becomes executable PHP. Reachability requires control over template authorship; successful exploitation runs PHP with the privileges of the hosting application.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-29221
- Published
- May 24, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Smarty
- Product
- Smarty
- Classifications
- CWE-94, T1059
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 24, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=< 3.1.45
- Affected versionversion=>= 4.0.0, < 4.1.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CVE-2022-29221 Proof of Concept Code - Smarty RCEproof of concept · unverified
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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