CVE-2024-28116 in grav
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2024
Grav is an open-source, flat-file content management system. Grav CMS prior to version 1.7.45 is vulnerable to a Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI), which allows any authenticated user (editor permissions are sufficient) to execute arbitrary code on the remote server bypassing the existing security sandbox. Version 1.7.45 contains a patch for this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28116 affects Grav CMS, an open-source flat-file content management system that has gained popularity for its simplicity and flexibility. This particular flaw represents a critical server-side template injection vulnerability that undermines the security model of the platform. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.7.45 and allows authenticated users with editor permissions to bypass existing security sandbox mechanisms and execute arbitrary code on the remote server. This represents a significant escalation of privileges from a standard content editor role to full server compromise, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where editors may have elevated access rights.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation within the template processing system of Grav CMS. When authenticated users submit content or parameters through the web interface, the system fails to adequately sanitize these inputs before processing them through the template engine. This allows malicious payloads to be injected directly into template variables, which are then executed by the underlying template engine without proper security checks. The vulnerability specifically targets the server-side template processing functionality that enables dynamic content generation, creating an execution path where user-controllable data can directly influence the code execution flow. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-74, which describes "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component" and is classified as a server-side template injection attack pattern.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-28116 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise capabilities. An attacker with editor permissions can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, gain access to sensitive data, install backdoors, or even use the compromised server as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The bypass of existing security sandboxes means that traditional defense-in-depth measures may not provide adequate protection, as the vulnerability operates at a level that circumvents the normal security boundaries. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Grav CMS in production environments where content editors have elevated permissions, as it transforms a routine editing role into a potential attack vector for full system compromise. The impact is further amplified when considering that Grav CMS is often deployed on shared hosting environments or servers where the compromise of one application can lead to broader infrastructure exposure.
Organizations using affected versions of Grav CMS should immediately implement the patch provided in version 1.7.45 to address this vulnerability. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper input sanitization and validation within the template processing pipeline, ensuring that user-controllable inputs cannot be interpreted as executable code. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of their Grav CMS installations to verify that all instances have been updated and that no unauthorized modifications have been made to the codebase. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, including unusual patterns of template processing or unexpected code execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of least privilege principles, where editor permissions should be carefully reviewed and restricted to minimize potential impact from similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of code through template injection mechanisms that bypass traditional security controls.