The product uses a template engine to insert or process externally-influenced input, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements or syntax that can be interpreted as template expressions or other code directives when processed by the engine.
Many web applications use template engines that allow developers to insert externally-influenced values into free text or messages in order to generate a full web page, document, message, etc. Such engines include Twig, Jinja2, Pug, Java Server Pages, FreeMarker, Velocity, ColdFusion, Smarty, and many others - including PHP itself. Some CMS (Content Management Systems) also use templates. Template engines often have their own custom command or expression language. If an attacker can influence input into a template before it is processed, then the attacker can invoke arbitrary expressions, i.e. perform injection attacks. For example, in some template languages, an attacker could inject the expression "{{7*7}}" and determine if the output returns "49" instead. The syntax varies depending on the language. In some cases, XSS-style attacks can work, which can obscure the root cause if the developer does not closely investigate the root cause of the error. Template engines can be used on the server or client, so both "sides" could be affected by injection. The mechanisms of attack or the affected technologies might be different, but the mistake is fundamentally the same.
Threat Mapped score: 0.0
Industry: Finiancial
Threat priority: Unclassified
CVE: CVE-2024-34359
Chain: Python bindings for LLM library do not use a sandboxed environment when parsing a template and constructing a prompt, allowing jinja2 Server Side Template Injection and code execution - one variant of a "prompt injection" attack.
CVE: CVE-2017-16783
server-side template injection in content management server
CVE: CVE-2020-9437
authentication / identity management product has client-side template injection
CVE: CVE-2020-12790
Server-Side Template Injection using a Twig template
CVE: CVE-2021-21244
devops platform allows SSTI
CVE: CVE-2020-4027
bypass of Server-Side Template Injection protection mechanism with macros in Velocity templates
CVE: CVE-2020-26282
web browser proxy server allows Java EL expressions from Server-Side Template Injection
CVE: CVE-2020-1961
SSTI involving mail templates and JEXL expressions
CVE: CVE-2019-19999
product does not use a "safe" setting for a FreeMarker configuration, allowing SSTI
CVE: CVE-2018-20465
product allows read of sensitive database username/password variables using server-side template injection
N/A
N/A
| Phase | Note |
|---|---|
| Architecture and Design | The developer might choose a template engine that makes it easier for programmers to write vulnerable code. |
| Implementation | The programmer might not use engine's built-in sandboxes or other capabilities to escape or otherwise prevent template injection from untrusted input. |
N/A