CVE-2023-32692Network attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via unvalidated rule placeholders

Published May 30, 2023 · Updated Jan 10, 2025

Code injection in CodeIgniter 4 before 4.3.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through Validation Placeholders. The Validation library substitutes attacker-controlled field values into string-based validation rules without first requiring the placeholder field to pass validation. A reachable application must use Validation Placeholders; controller and model validation inherit the same vulnerable library behavior.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in CodeIgniter 4 before 4.3.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through Validation Placeholders. The Validation library substitutes attacker-controlled field values into string-based validation rules without first requiring the placeholder field to pass validation. A reachable application must use Validation Placeholders; controller and model validation inherit the same vulnerable library behavior.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32692
Published
May 30, 2023
Updated
Jan 10, 2025
Vendor
CodeIgniter Foundation
Product
CodeIgniter 4
Classifications
CWE-94, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 30, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 10, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 4.3.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

CodeIgniter Foundation · CodeIgniter 4version=< 4.3.5

Published CVSS scores

9.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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