Bolt CMS vulnerable to authenticated remote code execution
Bolt CMS versions 3.7.0 and earlier contain a chain of vulnerabilities that together allow an authenticated user to achieve remote code execution. A user with valid credentials can inject arbitrary PHP code into the displayname field of the user profile, which is rendered unsanitized in backend templates. The attacker can then list and rename cached session files via the /async/browse/cache/.sessions and /async/folder/rename endpoints. By renaming a .session file to a path under the publicly accessible /files/ directory with a .php extension, the attacker can turn the injected code into an executable web shell. Finally, the attacker triggers the payload via a crafted HTTP GET request to the rogue file.
NOTE: The vendor announced that Bolt 3 reached end-of-life after 31 December 2021.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composer package | bolt/bolt | <= 3.7.0 | no fix |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-34086
- https://boltcms.io/newsitem/major-announcements-bolt-3-eol-bolt-4-2-5-0-releases
- https://github.com/bolt/bolt
- https://github.com/bolt/bolt/blob/3.7/src/Controller/Backend/Users.php#L279-L311
- https://github.com/bolt/bolt/releases/tag/3.7.1
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/unix/webapp/bolt_authenticated_rce.rb
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/48296
- https://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/unix/webapp/bolt_authenticated_rce
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-94- Platform
- Composer
- Package
bolt/bolt- Disclosed
- 03.07.2025
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-p9qc-8jjx-g8cg - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: bolt/bolt
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Composer package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 15
- First → latest
- 11.2019 07.2025
- Without a fix
- 5
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 5
- Medium 10
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 1
- 2020: 2
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 9
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 0
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