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CakePHP EUVDEUVD-2026-65121

| CVE-2026-77635 CRITICAL
SQL Injection (CWE-89)
2026-08-24 GitHub_M GHSA-fxf7-vhh8-7vpq
9.2
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: GitHub_M
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Identify Postgres-backed CakePHP endpoint using jsonValue
  2. Delivery
    Submit crafted jsonPath in request
  3. Exploit
    Break out of ::jsonpath expression
  4. Execution
    Inject arbitrary SQL
  5. Impact
    Exfiltrate or modify database data

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Parameterized queries, prepared statements
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Persistence

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

Exploitation Conditions

Two concrete conditions are required: (1) the application must use CakePHP's PostgresDriver (PostgreSQL backend) - this is the AT:P attack requirement, and MySQL/SQLite/SQL Server deployments are not affected; and (2) application code must pass user-controlled input into the jsonPath (second) argument of FunctionsBuilder::jsonValue(). What limits exploitation: it is not triggerable against default CakePHP behavior - a developer must actively route untrusted data into jsonValue()'s jsonPath, and the app must run on Postgres. No authentication or user interaction is required by the framework flaw itself (PR:N/UI:N), so where the vulnerable pattern exists it is remotely and unauthenticated exploitable.

Impact

The CVSS 4.0 base score is 9.2 (AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L): network-reachable, low-complexity, unauthenticated, with high confidentiality and integrity impact and low availability impact. The critical qualifier is AT:P (attack requirements present): exploitation depends on the application using the PostgreSQL driver AND passing untrusted input directly into jsonValue()'s jsonPath argument, which is an application coding pattern rather than default framework behavior. No EPSS score, KEV listing, or SSVC data were provided, so exploitation probability cannot be quantified from these signals; the vendor confirms the flaw and ships a patch. Net assessment: genuinely high severity where the vulnerable code path is used (SQLi enables data theft and manipulation), but the AT:P precondition narrows real-world exposure below what the raw 9.2 implies - many CakePHP apps use MySQL/other drivers or never route user input into jsonPath. Priority is high for Postgres-backed CakePHP apps using jsonValue() on user data, moderate otherwise.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A CakePHP application running on PostgreSQL exposes a search or filtering feature that forwards a user-supplied JSON path into $query->func()->jsonValue('column', $userInput). The attacker submits a crafted jsonPath such as "x')) > '0' OR (SELECT 1) --", breaking out of the intended jsonpath expression to inject arbitrary SQL and read or alter database contents. With a network vector, low complexity, and no authentication required by the flaw itself, exploitation is straightforward wherever this coding pattern exists.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 24, 2026

SQL injection in CakePHP's database layer allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL when an application uses FunctionsBuilder::jsonValue() with the PostgreSQL driver and passes user-controlled data into the jsonPath parameter. Affected release lines are 5.1.x before 5.1.10, 5.2.x before 5.2.15, and 5.3.x before 5.3.7; the root cause is the jsonPath value being interpolated into the generated ::jsonpath expression rather than bound as a parameter. No public exploit identified at time of analysis (not listed in CISA KEV), though the fix commit includes a regression test containing a working injection string.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: upgrade to CakePHP 5.1.10, 5.2.15, or 5.3.7 according to your release line (release tags https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp/releases/tag/5.1.10, /5.2.15, /5.3.7; fix commit 138f2f61486532c29ee4d106da2a9848c1ff1ab3). As an interim workaround where immediate upgrade is not possible, ensure no user-controlled data reaches the jsonPath parameter of FunctionsBuilder::jsonValue() - validate or allowlist jsonPath values to known-safe constants, or avoid jsonValue() on Postgres until patched; the trade-off is refactoring affected queries. Consult advisory GHSA-fxf7-vhh8-7vpq for full details.

Affected VersionsENISA

cakephp 5.1.0, < 5.1.10
cakephp/database 5.3.0, < 5.3.7
cakephp/database 5.1.0, < 5.1.10
cakephp 5.3.0, < 5.3.7
cakephp/database 5.2.0, < 5.2.15
cakephp 5.2.0, < 5.2.15

Affected Packages

composer cakephp/cakephp fix: 5.1.10, 5.2.15, 5.3.7
composer cakephp/database fix: 5.1.10, 5.2.15, 5.3.7
euvd cakephp_5_1_0 fix: 5.1.10
euvd cakephp_5_2_0 fix: 5.2.15
euvd cakephp_5_3_0 fix: 5.3.7
euvd cakephp_database_5_1_0 fix: 5.1.10
euvd cakephp_database_5_2_0 fix: 5.2.15
euvd cakephp_database_5_3_0 fix: 5.3.7

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 8 packages in composer, euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

CakePHP is a widely used rapid-development MVC framework for PHP; the flaw lives specifically in its Database component (cakephp/database), in the Postgres driver's _transformFunctionExpression() handling of the jsonValue() query function. jsonValue() maps to PostgreSQL's jsonb/jsonpath querying, and the jsonPath argument (e.g. '$.scores[1]') is meant to be a jsonpath literal. Before the fix, the driver formatted the second argument via sprintf("'%s'::jsonpath", quoteIdentifier(...)) instead of binding it as a parameter, so a value like "x')) > '0' OR (SELECT 1) --" broke out of the intended expression. This is a classic CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command) issue caused by string interpolation into SQL; the patch returns the value as a bound jsonb parameter.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (GitHub_M) PRIMARY 9.2 CRITICAL
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 7.7 HIGH

Network SQLi with no auth or interaction (PR:N/UI:N), but AC:H reflects the required Postgres driver plus application passing user data into jsonPath; SQLi yields high confidentiality/integrity and low availability impact.

3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (GitHub_M).

CVSS VectorVendor: GitHub_M

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
Present
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
Low
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Aug 24, 2026 - 21:02 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 24, 2026 - 20:30 cve.org
CRITICAL 9.2

DescriptionCVE.org

CakePHP is a rapid development framework for PHP. Prior to versions 5.1.10, 5.2.15, and 5.3.7 on their respective release lines, FunctionsBuilder::jsonValue() with PostgresDriver is vulnerable to SQL injection when user-controlled data is supplied to the jsonPath parameter. This issue is fixed in versions 5.1.10, 5.2.15, and 5.3.7.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A critical SQL injection vulnerability in CakePHP's database layer threatens data confidentiality and integrity for organizations running affected versions 5.1.x through 5.3.x with PostgreSQL. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal, modify, or delete sensitive business data. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, though the high-severity risk profile demands immediate patching across all affected systems.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 79% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
popular PHP framework, but Postgres+jsonValue path narrows real exposure
Threat Intel
1
1 source
Social Media
2
Sightings
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

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 CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
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
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
Yes
Human Impact
Very High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

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

Attack Technique

SQL injection exploits the way applications construct database queries by mixing user input directly into SQL statements.

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