Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Concrete CMS through 8.5.5 has an authenticated path traversal flaw that can lead to remote code execution when uploaded PHP code is mishandled. This is serious because a logged-in user or compromised account could potentially turn application access into server-side code execution.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for public or business-critical Concrete CMS systems. The vulnerability requires authentication, but the stated impact is remote code execution, so compromised accounts or low-trust user access could create material operational risk.
Technical view
The CVE describes authenticated path traversal tied to the bFilename parameter in Concrete CMS through 8.5.5. The reported impact is remote code execution via uploaded PHP code. No CVSS, CWE, detailed affected CPEs, or exploit telemetry are provided in the bundle.
Likely exposure
Internet-facing Concrete CMS sites running version 8.5.5 or earlier are the main concern, especially where untrusted or lower-privileged users can authenticate and upload or manage files.
Exploitation context
A public HackerOne report is referenced, but the bundle does not establish active exploitation. CISA KEV status is false, so treat exploitation as plausible but not confirmed from these sources.
Researcher notes
The source bundle is sparse: it names Concrete CMS through 8.5.5, bFilename, authenticated path traversal, upload-related PHP execution, and a HackerOne reference. It does not include CVSS scoring, exact privilege requirements, or confirmed patch text.
Mitigation direction
- Identify all Concrete CMS deployments and their exact versions.
- Prioritize upgrades for systems running Concrete CMS 8.5.5 or earlier.
- Review Concrete CMS 8.5.6 release notes and vendor guidance.
- Restrict file upload and file-manager access to trusted roles.
- Monitor for unexpected PHP files in writable upload locations.
Validation and detection
- Confirm deployed Concrete CMS version is newer than 8.5.5.
- Review user roles with upload or file-management privileges.
- Check web roots and upload paths for unexpected executable PHP files.
- Review application logs for suspicious authenticated file operations.
- Verify vendor release notes are reflected in the deployed build.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-40097 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://hackerone.com/reports/1102067CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://documentation.concretecms.org/developers/introduction/version-history/856-release-notesCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.