CVE-2023-40035Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated code execution via file URI path bypass

Published Aug 23, 2023 · Updated Oct 2, 2024

Validation bypass in Pixel & Tonic Craft CMS 3.0.0 through 3.8.14 and 4.0.0-RC1 through 4.4.14 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. The validatePath method compares an unnormalized file:// URI with system-directory strings, while mkdir interprets the URI and writes inside the templates directory. An authenticated administrator with ALLOW_ADMIN_CHANGES=true can upload a malicious Twig template and route requests to it for arbitrary command execution.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability2.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Validation bypass in Pixel & Tonic Craft CMS 3.0.0 through 3.8.14 and 4.0.0-RC1 through 4.4.14 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. The validatePath method compares an unnormalized file:// URI with system-directory strings, while mkdir interprets the URI and writes inside the templates directory. An authenticated administrator with ALLOW_ADMIN_CHANGES=true can upload a malicious Twig template and route requests to it for arbitrary command execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-40035
Published
Aug 23, 2023
Updated
Oct 2, 2024
Vendor
Pixel & Tonic
Product
Craft CMS
Classifications
CWE-74, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 3.0.0, < 3.8.15
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 4.0.0-RC1, < 4.4.15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Pixel & Tonic · Craft CMSversion=>= 3.0.0, < 3.8.15; version=>= 4.0.0-RC1, < 4.4.15

Published CVSS scores

7.2GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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