CVE-2018-15133: Laravel/framework Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qvqm-h22r-4cp9
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CVSS 8.1
CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-15133 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Laravel/framework libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves laravel framework rce vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.6.30.

CVE-2018-15133 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-15133
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qvqm-h22r-4cp9
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Laravel/framework
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2018-15133

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Laravel/framework dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

laravel/framework fixed: Latest secure release 
Upgrade laravel/framework to Latest secure release
laravel/framework fixed: 5.6.30 
Upgrade laravel/framework to 5.6.30
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for laravel/framework

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2018-15133, inspect your project dependencies for Laravel/framework:

inspect dependencies for laravel/framework

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Laravel/framework in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.6.30), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Laravel/framework, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

In Laravel Framework through 5.5.40 and 5.6.x through 5.6.29, remote code execution might occur as a result of an unserialize call on a potentially untrusted X-XSRF-TOKEN value. This involves the decrypt method in `Illuminate/Encryption/Encrypter.php` and PendingBroadcast in `gadgetchains/Laravel/RCE/3/chain.php` in phpggc. The attacker must know the application key, which normally would never occur, but could happen if the attacker previously had privileged access or successfully accomplished a previous attack.

CVE-2018-15133 Affected Laravel/framework Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.6.30
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
laravel/framework
 Packagist
≤ 5.5.40
laravel/framework
 Packagist
≥ 5.6.0
< 5.6.30
5.6.30

References

NVD — CVE-2018-15133 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-15133
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/laravel/framework/commit/d84cf988ed5d4661a4bf1fdcb08f5073835083a0
Laravel/framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kozmic/laravel-poc-CVE-2018-15133
Laravel/framework Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/laravel/framework
laravel.com/docs/5.6/upgrade WEB
https://laravel.com/docs/5.6/upgrade#upgrade-5.6.30
Laravel/framework Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153641/PHP-Laravel-Framework-Token-Unserialize-Remote-Command-Execution.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-15133?
CVE-2018-15133 is a security vulnerability in Laravel/framework involving Laravel Framework RCE Vulnerability under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Laravel/framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.6.30 across affected packages: laravel/framework.
What version fixes CVE-2018-15133?
Upgrading to 5.6.30 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is laravel/framework affected?
Yes, laravel/framework is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release, 5.6.30. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release, 5.6.30 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-15133?
CVE-2018-15133 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-15133?
CVE-2018-15133 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2018-15133?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for laravel/framework'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-qvqm-h22r-4cp9",
  "modified" : "2025-01-13T14:08:12Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T00:56:30Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-15133" ],
  "summary" : "Laravel Framework RCE Vulnerability",
  "details" : "In Laravel Framework through 5.5.40 and 5.6.x through 5.6.29, remote code execution might occur as a result of an unserialize call on a potentially untrusted X-XSRF-TOKEN value. This involves the decrypt method in `Illuminate/Encryption/Encrypter.php` and PendingBroadcast in `gadgetchains/Laravel/RCE/3/chain.php` in phpggc. The attacker must know the application key, which normally would never occur, but could happen if the attacker previously had privileged access or successfully accomplished a previous attack.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "laravel/framework"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "5.5.40"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "laravel/framework"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.6.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.6.30"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 5.6.29"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-15133"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/laravel/framework/commit/d84cf988ed5d4661a4bf1fdcb08f5073835083a0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kozmic/laravel-poc-CVE-2018-15133"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/laravel/framework"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://laravel.com/docs/5.6/upgrade#upgrade-5.6.30"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153641/PHP-Laravel-Framework-Token-Unserialize-Remote-Command-Execution.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-22T00:13:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2018-08-09T19:29:00Z"
  }
}