Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
ProcessMaker 3.5.4 is reported to let unauthenticated attackers read local server files through improper path traversal handling. The business risk is exposure of sensitive configuration, account, or system data. The bundle does not show confirmed active exploitation or a vendor fix.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority exposure review. Prioritize externally reachable ProcessMaker systems and environments holding sensitive workflow, credential, or integration data. Escalate if version 3.5.4 is confirmed in production.
Technical view
The sources describe a local file inclusion issue in ProcessMaker 3.5.4, classified as CWE-98, with CVSS 4.0 score 6.9. The affected-version metadata is inconsistent, listing version “0” while the title and description identify 3.5.4.
Likely exposure
Organizations running ProcessMaker 3.5.4 are the clearest exposure group. Internet-facing deployments deserve faster review. Because the affected-version field is incomplete, teams should verify installed versions against vendor or VulnCheck guidance before assuming scope.
Exploitation context
The bundle includes an ExploitDB reference, indicating public exploit information exists. CISA KEV status is false in the provided data, and no cited source in the bundle confirms active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports unauthenticated local file read risk, but source data has gaps: affected-version metadata is unclear and no patch is named. Avoid assuming broader ProcessMaker versions are affected without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory ProcessMaker deployments and confirm exact versions.
- Check ProcessMaker and VulnCheck guidance for fixed or unaffected versions.
- Restrict external access to ProcessMaker until exposure is understood.
- Review web-server rules for path traversal filtering where applicable.
- Monitor logs for suspicious file-read or traversal attempts.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether ProcessMaker 3.5.4 is deployed anywhere.
- Identify whether any ProcessMaker instance is internet-accessible.
- Review application and web logs for abnormal file-access requests.
- Check for sensitive file exposure indicators without reproducing exploit steps.
- Document compensating controls and remaining exposure.
Public sources used
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.
CWE-98: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK 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-2021-47978 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.9 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N2.53.6VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
6.9MediumVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.2MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-50229CVE reference, VulnCheck · exploit
- Official Product HomepageCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: ProcessMaker 3.5.4 Local File Inclusion via Path TraversalCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
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.
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion')
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.