# CVE-2025-23209: Craft CMS has a potential RCE with a compromised security key

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-23209-craft-cms-code-injection-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-01-21. Updated: 2026-05-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-23209 · Severity: critical · CVSS 3.1 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2025-01-21

Craft CMS contains a code injection vulnerability due to improper validation of the database backup path. This allows remote code execution (RCE) on systems where the security key has been compromised.

Technologies: [Craft CMS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/craft-cms), [craftcms/cms (Packagist)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/craftcms-cms). Vendors: [Craft CMS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/craft-cms), [Packagist](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/packagist).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-23209 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2025-23209 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 20 February 2025. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2025-23209?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 21 January 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** craftcms/cms (Packagist) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=5.0.0-RC1,fixed=5.5.8.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-23209?** Yes. craftcms/cms (Packagist): upgrade to 5.5.8 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2025-23209 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-23209?** Check whether you run Craft CMS or craftcms/cms (Packagist) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- craftcms/cms (Packagist): upgrade to 5.5.8 or later

  ```sh
  composer require craftcms/cms:^5.5.8
  ```


## Affected products

- Craft CMS Craft CMS 4.x < 4.13.8, 5.x < 5.5.8

## Identifiers

- CVE-2025-23209
- GHSA-x684-96hh-833x

## Timeline

- 2025-01-17: disclosed
- 2025-02-20: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2025-02-20: exploited
- 2025-01-17: patched: Patched in versions 4.13.8 and 5.5.8

## Related threats

- [Craft CMS SQL injection in getNext/getPrev methods](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123489-craft-cms-4-0-0-before-4-18-9-and-5-0-0-before-5-11-2-contains-a)
- [Craft CMS: Stored XSS in the control panel via unescaped draft name](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-72787-craft-cms-stored-xss-in-the-control-panel-via-unescaped-draft)
- [Craft CMS: Arbitrary user password reset leading to administrator account takeover](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-72786-craft-cms-arbitrary-user-password-reset-leading-to-administrator)
- [Craft CMS authorization bypass in category structure modification](https://junglewise.ai/threats/craft-cms-authorization-bypass-in-category-structure-modification-1555f980)
- [Craft CMS authenticated RCE through Twig sandbox escape](https://junglewise.ai/threats/craft-cms-authenticated-rce-through-twig-sandbox-escape-32ee5ec1)