Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in Validation Placeholders in CodeIgniter4

Impact

This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when you use Validation Placeholders.

The vulnerability exists in the Validation library, and validation methods in the controller and in-model validation are also vulnerable because they use the Validation library internally.

Patches

Upgrade to v4.3.5 or later.

Workarounds

Setting validation rules with an array.

E.g.:

$validation->setRules([
    'email' => ['required', 'valid_email, 'is_unique[users.email,id,{id}]'],
]);

References

• https://codeigniter4.github.io/userguide/libraries/validation.html#validation-placeholders
• https://codeigniter4.github.io/userguide/incoming/controllers.html#validating-data
• https://codeigniter4.github.io/userguide/models/model.html#in-model-validation

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

• Open an issue in codeigniter4/CodeIgniter4
• Email us at SECURITY.md