CVE-2022-39365 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-94, indicating improper control over code generation, specifically a code injection flaw, in the Pimcore platform. Pimcore is an open-source data and experience management platform widely used for managing digital content, product information, and customer data. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 10.5.9 and arises from insecure handling of user-controlled Twig templates within the Pimcore/Mail and ClassDefinition\Layout\Text components. Twig is a templating engine for PHP, and improper sanitization or validation of templates can lead to server-side template injection (SSTI). This injection allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the Pimcore instance. The vulnerability essentially enables remote code execution (RCE), which is one of the most critical types of security flaws, as it can lead to full system compromise. The issue was patched in version 10.5.9, and although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in production environments poses a significant risk. The patch can be applied manually if upgrading is not immediately feasible. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, as it stems from the processing of user-controlled templates, which may be submitted via the platform's interfaces. This increases the attack surface and ease of exploitation. Given the nature of Pimcore as a platform used by enterprises for managing critical data and digital experiences, exploitation could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, service disruption, or use of the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be substantial. Pimcore is used across various sectors including retail, manufacturing, and media, which are critical to the European economy. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, intellectual property, and operational data, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, potentially resulting in heavy fines and reputational damage. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely means attackers could deploy malware, ransomware, or establish persistent backdoors, disrupting business continuity. Additionally, compromised Pimcore instances could be leveraged to launch attacks on other internal systems, escalating the scope of damage. Given the platform’s role in digital experience management, service availability and integrity could be affected, impacting customer-facing applications and e-commerce platforms. This could lead to loss of revenue and customer trust. The medium severity rating reflects the significant risk posed by RCE combined with the fact that exploitation requires the vulnerable version to be in use, but the absence of known exploits suggests some window for mitigation.

European organizations using Pimcore should immediately verify their version and upgrade to 10.5.9 or later to apply the official patch. If upgrading is not feasible, they should manually apply the patch to the affected components, focusing on the Twig template rendering in Pimcore/Mail and ClassDefinition\Layout\Text. It is critical to audit all user inputs that can influence template rendering and implement strict input validation and sanitization to prevent injection of malicious code. Organizations should also implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious template injection patterns. Regular code reviews and security testing, including static and dynamic analysis focusing on template handling, should be integrated into the development lifecycle. Monitoring and logging of template rendering activities should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the impact of a potential compromise. Finally, organizations should prepare incident response plans specific to RCE scenarios and conduct tabletop exercises to ensure readiness.