CVE-2026-48820: CakePHP View::element() Is Missing A Path Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2026-48820 is a MODERATE view::element() is missing a path vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting CakePHP libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves view::element() is missing a path containment check. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.3.6, 5.2.13, 5.1.7, 4.6.4, 4.5.11.
CVE-2026-48820 at a Glance
How to Fix CVE-2026-48820
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected CakePHP dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade cakephp/cakephp to 5.3.6Upgrade cakephp/cakephp to 5.2.13Upgrade cakephp/cakephp to 5.1.7Upgrade cakephp/cakephp to 4.6.4Upgrade cakephp/cakephp to 4.5.11Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for cakephp/cakephpHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-48820, inspect your project dependencies for CakePHP:
inspect dependencies for cakephp/cakephpAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of CakePHP in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.3.6), 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. In CakePHP, 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
CVE-2026-48820 Affected CakePHP Versions
5 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
cakephp/cakephp
|
Packagist |
≥ 5.3.0
< 5.3.6
|
5.3.6
|
|
cakephp/cakephp
|
Packagist |
≥ 5.2.0
< 5.2.13
|
5.2.13
|
|
cakephp/cakephp
|
Packagist |
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.1.7
|
5.1.7
|
|
cakephp/cakephp
|
Packagist |
≥ 4.6.0
< 4.6.4
|
4.6.4
|
|
cakephp/cakephp
|
Packagist |
< 4.5.11
|
4.5.11
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-48820?
Which CakePHP versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-48820?
Is cakephp/cakephp affected?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-48820?
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2026-48820?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-wpvj-hjcr-h3p2",
"modified" : "2026-06-26T21:00:10Z",
"published" : "2026-06-26T21:00:10Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-48820" ],
"summary" : "CakePHP: View::element() is missing a path containment check",
"details" : "### Impact\n`View::_getElementFileName()` does not check that the resolved element path is within the application/plugin view template paths. When element names are created with specifically crafted user-supplied data this weakness can be leveraged to include other PHP files on the server.\n\n### Patches\nPatched releases are available in 5.3.6, 5.2.13, 5.1.7, 4.6.4, and 4.5.11.\n\n### Workarounds\nIf developers are not using user-supplied data in element names, no action is required.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V4",
"score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Packagist",
"name" : "cakephp/cakephp"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "5.3.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "5.3.6"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Packagist",
"name" : "cakephp/cakephp"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "5.2.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "5.2.13"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Packagist",
"name" : "cakephp/cakephp"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "5.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "5.1.7"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Packagist",
"name" : "cakephp/cakephp"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "4.6.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "4.6.4"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Packagist",
"name" : "cakephp/cakephp"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "4.5.11"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp/security/advisories/GHSA-wpvj-hjcr-h3p2"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-48820"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-06-26T21:00:10Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-17T22:16:22Z"
}
}