CVE-2024-40520Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated code execution via configuration file injection

Published Jul 12, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Code injection in SeaCMS 12.9 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary operating-system commands through the admin panel. admin_config_mark.php removes quote characters after global escaping, then concatenates attacker-controlled watermark values into inc_photowatermark_config.php, allowing a backslash to break the generated PHP string and inject executable PHP. Administrative authentication and access to the watermark settings request are required; successful injection runs commands with the web server process permissions.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.08%
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 SeaCMS 12.9 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary operating-system commands through the admin panel. admin_config_mark.php removes quote characters after global escaping, then concatenates attacker-controlled watermark values into inc_photowatermark_config.php, allowing a backslash to break the generated PHP string and inject executable PHP. Administrative authentication and access to the watermark settings request are required; successful injection runs commands with the web server process permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-40520
Published
Jul 12, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
SeaCMS
Product
SeaCMS
Classifications
CWE-20, T1059.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 12, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=12.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SeaCMS · SeaCMSversion=12.9

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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-20Improper Input Validation
T1059.003Windows Command 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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