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Bookstack CVE-2020-5256

HIGH
Eval Injection (CWE-95)
2020-03-09 security-advisories@github.com
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Eval input sanitization
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 2.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

BookStack before version 0.25.5 has a vulnerability where a user could upload PHP files through image upload functions, which would allow them to execute code on the host system remotely. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affected Packages

composer ssddanbrown/bookstack fix: 0.25.5

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in composer

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-95. BookStack before version 0.25.5 has a vulnerability where a user could upload PHP files through image upload functions, which would allow them to execute code on the host system remotely. They would then have the permissions of the PHP process. This most impacts scenarios where non-trusted users are given permission to upload images in any area of the application. The issue was addressed in a series of patches in versions 0.25.3, 0.25.4 and 0.25.5. Users should upgrade to at least v0.25.5 to avoid this vulnerability. Affected products include: Bookstackapp Bookstack. Version information: version 0.25.5.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

BookStack before version 0.25.5 has a vulnerability where a user could upload PHP files through image upload functions, which would allow them to execute code on the host system remotely. They would then have the permissions of the PHP process. This most impacts scenarios where non-trusted users are given permission to upload images in any area of the application. The issue was addressed in a series of patches in versions 0.25.3, 0.25.4 and 0.25.5. Users should upgrade to at least v0.25.5 to avoid this vulnerability.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
2.0%
Top 22% exploitable
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 2.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

46
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +2
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Code Injection CRITICAL

Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:bookstackapp:bookstack:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2021-4119 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Dec 15

bookstack is vulnerable to Improper Access Control. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely e

CVE-2020-26210 HIGH POC
8.7 Nov 03

In BookStack before version 0.30.4, a user with permissions to edit a page could add an attached link which would execut

CVE-2021-3944 MEDIUM POC
6.8 Dec 02

bookstack is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerability is re

CVE-2023-6199 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Nov 20

Book Stack version 23.10.2 allows filtering local files on the server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerabil

CVE-2021-3916 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Nov 05

bookstack is vulnerable to Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'). Rated medium

CVE-2021-3906 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Oct 27

bookstack is vulnerable to Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulne

CVE-2021-3874 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Oct 15

bookstack is vulnerable to Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'). Rated medium

CVE-2021-3758 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Sep 02

bookstack is vulnerable to Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is r

CVE-2021-3915 MEDIUM POC
5.7 Nov 13

bookstack is vulnerable to Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.7), this vulne

CVE-2026-5484 MEDIUM POC
5.5 Apr 03

BookStack chapter export functionality allows unauthenticated remote attackers to bypass access controls via manipulatio

CVE-2022-0877 MEDIUM POC
5.4 Mar 08

Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository bookstackapp/bookstack prior to v22.02.3. Rated medium severity

CVE-2021-3768 MEDIUM POC
5.4 Sep 06

bookstack is vulnerable to Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). Rated m

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