Overview
CVE-2025-52122 represents a major cyber threat that cybersecurity experts and system administrators managing CraftCMS should be aware of. The vulnerability impacts the Freeform plugin, versions 5.0.0 to 5.10.15, a widely used component of CraftCMS. This vulnerability is highly critical, primarily because it allows arbitrary code injection by any user with access to form editing. As a result, it opens the door for potential system compromise and data leakage, putting sensitive content at risk of exposure.
The reason why this matters is that CraftCMS and its Freeform plugin are often used by organizations to manage and display content online. If the vulnerability is exploited, not only could an attacker gain access to sensitive data, but they could also take control of the system, leading to severe operational disruptions and potential financial losses.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-52122
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (Limited to users with form editing access)
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Freeform Plugin for CraftCMS | 5.0.0 to 5.10.15
How the Exploit Works
The Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) vulnerability in Freeform allows an attacker to inject arbitrary code into the CraftCMS system. The exploit is possible because user input in the form submission title field is not correctly sanitized. An attacker with access to form editing can inject malicious code in the form’s title field, which the server then processes as a template, leading to arbitrary code execution.
Conceptual Example Code
An example of how this vulnerability could be exploited is shown in the following HTTP request:
POST /craftcms/form/edit HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
Cookie: SESSIONID=...
{
"form_id": "1",
"title": "{{'7'*7}}",
}In this example, the attacker uses the title field in the form to inject a simple template expression `{{‘7’*7}}` which when processed by the server, gets evaluated as ’49’. Note that this is a harmless example, but a malicious actor could inject much harmful code.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, users of affected versions of the Freeform plugin should apply the vendor’s patch immediately. If applying the patch is not immediately feasible, consider using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure. It is crucial to remember that these are temporary fixes and that the most effective solution is to apply the vendor’s patch to completely eliminate the vulnerability.