Smarty arbitrary PHP code executionGHSA-2pmx-6mm6-6v72
GHSA-2pmx-6mm6-6v72 is a Code Injection vulnerability in smarty/smarty. 3 public exploit or proof-of-concept references are indexed, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for smarty/smarty — see the affected versions and patch details below.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
Real-World Exposure
smarty/smartyReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Packagist packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Smarty before 3.1.21 allows remote attackers to bypass the secure mode restrictions and execute arbitrary PHP code as demonstrated by "{literal}<{/literal}script language=php>" in a template.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐘Packagist | smarty/smarty | all versions | 3.1.21composer require smarty/smarty:^3.1.21 |
Affected Products
smartysmartyResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for smarty/smarty, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update smarty/smarty to 3.1.21 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-2pmx-6mm6-6v72 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
Stop passing untrusted input into the interpreter or shell: call the affected binary with an argument array rather than a composed command string, reject anything outside a strict allowlist of expected values, and run the component under an account that cannot reach beyond the work it legitimately does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-2pmx-6mm6-6v72 in your dependencies?
Find it across Packagist, including transitive dependencies.