CVE-2025-23209: Craftcms/cms Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-x684-96hh-833x
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CVSS 8.0
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-23209 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.0) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Craftcms/cms libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves craft cms has a potential rce with a compromised security key. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.5.8, 4.13.8.

CVE-2025-23209 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-23209
GHSA Identifier GHSA-x684-96hh-833x
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.0
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Craftcms/cms
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.0

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2025-23209

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

craftcms/cms fixed: 5.5.8 
Upgrade craftcms/cms to 5.5.8
craftcms/cms fixed: 4.13.8 
Upgrade craftcms/cms to 4.13.8
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 craftcms/cms

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2025-23209, inspect your project dependencies for Craftcms/cms:

inspect dependencies for craftcms/cms

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Craftcms/cms in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.5.8), 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-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In Craftcms/cms, 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

### Impact This is an RCE vulnerability that affects Craft 4 and 5 installs where your security key has already been compromised. https://craftcms.com/knowledge-base/securing-craft#keep-your-secrets-secret Anyone running an unpatched version of Craft with a compromised security key is affected. ### Patches This has been patched in Craft 5.5.8 and 4.13.8. ### Workarounds If you can't update to a patched version, then rotating your security key and ensuring its privacy will help to migitgate the issue. ### References https://github.com/craftcms/cms/commit/e59e22b30c9dd39e5e2c7fe02c147bcbd004e603

CVE-2025-23209 Affected Craftcms/cms Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.5.84.13.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
craftcms/cms
 Packagist
≥ 5.0.0-RC1
< 5.5.8
5.5.8
craftcms/cms
 Packagist
≥ 4.0.0-RC1
< 4.13.8
4.13.8

References

Craftcms/cms Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/craftcms/cms
www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vul... WEB
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-23209
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/craftcms/cms/security/advisories/GHSA-x684-96hh-833x
NVD — CVE-2025-23209 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-23209
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/craftcms/cms/commit/e59e22b30c9dd39e5e2c7fe02c147bcbd004e603
craftcms.com/knowledge-base/secu... WEB
https://craftcms.com/knowledge-base/securing-craft#keep-your-secrets-secret

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-23209?
CVE-2025-23209 is a security vulnerability in Craftcms/cms involving Craft CMS has a potential RCE with a compromised security key under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Craftcms/cms versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.5.8, 4.13.8 across affected packages: craftcms/cms.
What version fixes CVE-2025-23209?
Upgrading to 5.5.8, 4.13.8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is craftcms/cms affected?
Yes, craftcms/cms is affected in releases prior to 5.5.8, 4.13.8. Upgrade your dependency to 5.5.8, 4.13.8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-23209?
CVE-2025-23209 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.0 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-23209?
CVE-2025-23209 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2025-23209?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for craftcms/cms'. 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-x684-96hh-833x",
  "modified" : "2025-10-22T19:27:25Z",
  "published" : "2025-01-21T19:48:38Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-23209" ],
  "summary" : "Craft CMS has a potential RCE with a compromised security key",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nThis is an RCE vulnerability that affects Craft 4 and 5 installs where your security key has already been compromised.\n\nhttps://craftcms.com/knowledge-base/securing-craft#keep-your-secrets-secret\n\nAnyone running an unpatched version of Craft with a compromised security key is affected.\n\n### Patches\n\nThis has been patched in Craft 5.5.8 and 4.13.8.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nIf you can't update to a patched version, then rotating your security key and ensuring its privacy will help to migitgate the issue.\n\n### References\n\nhttps://github.com/craftcms/cms/commit/e59e22b30c9dd39e5e2c7fe02c147bcbd004e603",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "craftcms/cms"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0-RC1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.5.8"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "< 5.5.5"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "craftcms/cms"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.0.0-RC1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.13.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/craftcms/cms/security/advisories/GHSA-x684-96hh-833x"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-23209"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/craftcms/cms/commit/e59e22b30c9dd39e5e2c7fe02c147bcbd004e603"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://craftcms.com/knowledge-base/securing-craft#keep-your-secrets-secret"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/craftcms/cms"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-23209"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-01-21T19:48:38Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-01-18T01:15:07Z"
  }
}