Listen to this Post
How the CVE works:
Concrete5 CMS version 9.1.3 utilizes XPath queries to process XML data for content management. URL path parameters are directly incorporated into these queries without proper sanitization. Attackers can inject malicious XPath code through crafted HTTP requests. By manipulating parameters with payloads like XPath operators or functions, the query logic is altered. This allows attackers to traverse XML documents, accessing sensitive internal paths and system information. The injection occurs when user input is concatenated into XPath expressions without validation. For instance, payloads such as ‘|’ or ‘or’ statements can modify query outcomes. Attackers can flood the system with requests containing these payloads, leading to denial of service by exhausting resources. The vulnerability exploits the lack of input escaping in the XPath evaluation context. Similar to SQL injection, this enables unauthorized data extraction from XML stores. Error messages may reveal schema details, aiding further exploitation. The core issue is in how URL parameters are handled in the CMS’s page routing or content retrieval mechanisms. Attackers need no authentication, making it accessible via web requests. The impact includes disclosure of configuration data and potential system path enumeration. This vulnerability is mitigated by implementing input validation and parameterized queries. Overall, it highlights common injection flaws in web applications using XML data sources.
Platform: Concrete5 CMS
Version: 9.1.3
Vulnerability: XPath Injection
Severity: Moderate
Date: Jan 13, 2026
Prediction: Patch ETA Jan20
What Undercode Say:
Analytics
- curl probing: `curl -v “http://target.com/path?input=payload”`
– fuzzing script: `for p in $(cat xpath_payloads.txt); do curl “http://target.com/?param=$p”; done`
– Python test: `import requests; payload = “‘ or 1=1”; r = requests.get(f’http://target.com/?q={payload}’)`
Exploit
- Bypass payload: `’ or ‘1’=’1`
– Extraction payload: `| //`
– DoS payload: `’ | //[position()=9999]`
Protection from this CVE
- Input validation
- Parameterized XPath queries
- WAF deployment
Impact
- Information disclosure
- Denial of service
- Path traversal
🎯Let’s Practice Exploiting & Learn Patching For Free:
Sources:
Reported By: github.com
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
