high CVSS 7.2

CVE-2026-28695·PHP vulnerability

Craft is a content management system (CMS). There is an authenticated admin RCE in Craft CMS 5.8.21 via Server-Side Template Injection using the create() Twig function combined with a Symfony Process gadget chain. The create() Twig function exposes Craft::createObject(), which allows instantiation of arbitrary PHP classes with constructor arguments. Combined with the bundled symfony/process dependency, this enables RCE. This bypasses the fix implemented for CVE-2025-57811 (patched in 5.8.7). This vulnerability is fixed in 5.9.0-beta.1 and 4.17.0-beta.1.

Severity
high
Software
PHP
Fixed in
5.9.0
Published
2026-03-04

Affected versions

From: 5.0.0

Until: 5.9.0

Fixed in: 5.9.0

How to fix this CVE

Upgrade Craft CMS to version 5.9.0 or later to remediate this authenticated admin remote code execution vulnerability. The vulnerability exploits server-side template injection through the create() Twig function combined with Symfony's Process component, allowing attackers with admin credentials to execute arbitrary PHP code. Ensure all production instances are patched immediately as this bypasses protections from previous CVE-2025-57811 fixes.

sudo dnf update php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST requests to /admin URLs containing Twig template syntax with create() function calls, particularly payloads instantiating Symfony\Component\Process\Process class; example pattern: 'create("Symfony\\Component\\Process\\Process"' in request body or Twig template parameters

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

Add this rule to your WAF to block exploitation attempts while you schedule the patch. 

Implement WAF rules to block POST requests containing suspicious Twig template syntax patterns such as 'create(' followed by class paths, 'Process', or 'system' command execution patterns. Additionally, restrict access to /admin endpoints to known IP ranges and enforce strict Content-Type validation (application/json or application/x-www-form-urlencoded only).

How to check if you are affected

  1. Run 'php -v' to identify the currently installed PHP version and confirm it is not running an outdated Craft CMS installation
  2. Check Craft CMS installation at {CRAFT_ROOT}/craft.php and verify the version via 'php craft --version' or inspect config/general.php for the edition and version settings
  3. Search web server logs (nginx: /var/log/nginx/access.log, Apache: /var/log/apache2/access.log) for POST requests to admin URLs containing 'twig', 'create(', or 'Process' keywords that may indicate exploitation attempts
  4. Verify the patch by confirming Craft CMS version is >= 5.9.0 using 'php craft about' command or checking composer.lock for craftcms/cms package version

FAQ

What is CVE-2026-28695?

A high-severity authenticated remote code execution flaw in Craft CMS versions 5.0.0 through 5.9.0 that allows admin users to inject malicious Twig template code via the create() function, which instantiates arbitrary PHP classes and leverages the bundled Symfony Process component to execute system commands.

Is CVE-2026-28695 being actively exploited?

No, this vulnerability is not currently listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploit code is available; however, the attack requires admin-level authentication, limiting exposure to compromised or malicious administrator accounts.

What versions of PHP are affected by CVE-2026-28695?

CVE-2026-28695 affects Craft CMS versions 5.0.0 through 5.9.0 (inclusive). PHP itself is not directly vulnerable; the issue lies in Craft CMS's template engine implementation. The fix is available in Craft CMS 5.9.0 and later.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-28695?

Navigate to your Craft CMS installation directory and run 'php craft about' to display the current version. If the version is between 5.0.0 and 5.8.21 (inclusive), your installation is vulnerable and requires immediate upgrade to 5.9.0 or later.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-28695?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Craft CMS is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-28695 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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