CVE-2025-23209Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via unchecked backup path

Published Jan 18, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Code injection in Pixel & Tonic Craft CMS 4 and 5 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code through database restoration. UpdaterController::actionRestoreDb trusted the signed dbBackupPath without verifying that the file existed inside Craft's database-backup directory, then passed it to the restore routine. A previously compromised security key is required to forge the restore request; successful exploitation runs attacker-chosen code in the web application's server context.

CVSS severity8.0
High
EPSS probability21.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Code injection in Pixel & Tonic Craft CMS 4 and 5 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code through database restoration. UpdaterController::actionRestoreDb trusted the signed dbBackupPath without verifying that the file existed inside Craft's database-backup directory, then passed it to the restore routine. A previously compromised security key is required to forge the restore request; successful exploitation runs attacker-chosen code in the web application's server context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-23209
Published
Jan 18, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
Pixel & Tonic
Product
Craft CMS
Classifications
CWE-94, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record 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=>= 4.0.0-RC1, < 4.13.8
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 5.0.0-RC1, < 5.5.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Pixel & Tonic · Craft CMSversion=>= 4.0.0-RC1, < 4.13.8; version=>= 5.0.0-RC1, < 5.5.5

Published CVSS scores

8.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.0GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
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.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo