CVE-2026-102142 in Kiteworks
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
A system notification template on the Kiteworks appliance was rendered by a template engine that evaluated expressions contained in the stored template body. An authenticated System Administrator could potentially store a crafted template that executed operating-system commands on the appliance when the notification was next sent.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified involves an insecure server-side template injection flaw within the Kiteworks appliance, specifically affecting its system notification module. This security issue stems from the design of the template engine used to render notifications, which evaluates expressions embedded in stored template bodies without sufficient sanitization or isolation. The core technical flaw lies in the execution context of these templates; rather than being treated as static text or safe data structures, the content is processed by a scripting interpreter capable of executing arbitrary code. This architectural decision creates a direct pathway for command injection when user-controlled input is not properly validated before inclusion in the template rendering process.
The impact of this vulnerability is significant due to the specific privilege level required and the resulting system compromise. An authenticated System Administrator, who possesses high-level access rights within the application, can exploit this flaw by storing a maliciously crafted notification template containing operating-system commands. When the system subsequently attempts to send a notification using this compromised template, the embedded expressions are evaluated in a context that allows for direct interaction with the underlying host operating system. This effectively grants an attacker who has obtained administrative credentials full control over the appliance's OS, enabling them to execute arbitrary commands, exfiltrate sensitive data, install backdoors, or pivot to other systems on the network depending on the privileges of the service account running the application.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes Improper Control of Generation of Code (Code Injection), and more specifically points toward server-side template injection patterns often associated with CWE-78 or related command execution flaws in web applications. In terms of adversary behavior mapping to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit technique corresponds to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where an attacker uses a system's native tools to execute commands. The attack vector also reflects aspects of T1136 Create Account if the administrator creates new credentials for persistence, but primarily it represents a direct escalation from application-level access to operating-system level compromise via code injection through trusted input channels like administrative configuration interfaces.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary defense is applying vendor-provided patches that update the template engine or modify its execution context to prevent arbitrary command evaluation. Administrators should ensure their Kiteworks appliances are updated to versions where this vulnerability has been resolved. In addition to patching, implementing strict input validation on all administrative interfaces is critical; any data stored in templates must be sanitized against a whitelist of allowed characters and structures rather than relying solely on blacklist approaches. Furthermore, adhering to the principle of least privilege can limit the blast radius if such an exploit were attempted by compromising lower-privileged accounts, although this specific flaw requires admin-level access. Network segmentation should also be employed to isolate critical appliances from general user networks, reducing the potential for lateral movement following a successful exploitation event.