CVE-2017-9069: Modx/revolution MODX Revolution Allows Overwriting .htaccess Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-23gj-x27g-r34f
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-434
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-9069 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) modx revolution allows overwriting .htaccess vulnerability (CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type) affecting Modx/revolution libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves modx revolution allows overwriting .htaccess. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.5.7.

CVE-2017-9069 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-9069
GHSA Identifier GHSA-23gj-x27g-r34f
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Affected Product Modx/revolution
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
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-2017-9069

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

modx/revolution fixed: 2.5.7 
Upgrade modx/revolution to 2.5.7
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 modx/revolution

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2017-9069, inspect your project dependencies for Modx/revolution:

inspect dependencies for modx/revolution

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Modx/revolution in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.5.7), 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-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type, where the product allows the upload or transfer of dangerous file types that are automatically processed within its environment. In Modx/revolution, 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 MODX Revolution before 2.5.7, a user with file upload permissions is able to execute arbitrary code by uploading a file with the name .htaccess.

CVE-2017-9069 Affected Modx/revolution Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.5.7
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
modx/revolution
 Packagist
< 2.5.7
2.5.7

References

NVD — CVE-2017-9069 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9069
Modx/revolution Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/modxcms/revolution/pull/13423
citadelo.com/en/2017/04/modx-rev... WEB
https://citadelo.com/en/2017/04/modx-revolution-cms
Modx/revolution Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/modxcms/revolution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-9069?
CVE-2017-9069 is a security vulnerability in Modx/revolution involving MODX Revolution allows overwriting .htaccess under CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type.
Which Modx/revolution versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.5.7 across affected packages: modx/revolution.
What version fixes CVE-2017-9069?
Upgrading to 2.5.7 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is modx/revolution affected?
Yes, modx/revolution is affected in releases prior to 2.5.7. Upgrade your dependency to 2.5.7 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-9069?
CVE-2017-9069 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-9069?
CVE-2017-9069 is classified under CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (The product allows the upload or transfer of dangerous file types that are automatically processed within its environment.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2017-9069?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for modx/revolution'. 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-23gj-x27g-r34f",
  "modified" : "2025-04-22T18:43:38Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T02:43:14Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-9069" ],
  "summary" : "MODX Revolution allows overwriting .htaccess",
  "details" : "In MODX Revolution before 2.5.7, a user with file upload permissions is able to execute arbitrary code by uploading a file with the name .htaccess.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "modx/revolution"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.5.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9069"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/modxcms/revolution/pull/13423"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://citadelo.com/en/2017/04/modx-revolution-cms"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/modxcms/revolution"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-434" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-22T18:43:38Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-05-18T16:29:00Z"
  }
}