CVE-2025-8311 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting dotCMS Cloud Services (dCS) versions 24.03.22 and later. The flaw resides in the /api/v1/contenttype endpoint, specifically in the handling of the 'sites' query parameter, which accepts a comma-separated list of site identifiers or keys. This parameter is directly concatenated into a SQL query without proper sanitization or parameterization, leading to a Boolean-based blind SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89). An authenticated attacker with low privileges can exploit this flaw to extract sensitive data from the backend database, escalate privileges within the application, or cause denial-of-service (DoS) conditions by crafting malicious payloads. The vulnerability was confirmed using automated tools such as SQLMap, demonstrating the ability to fully exfiltrate database contents and disrupt service availability. The vulnerability affects multiple recent versions of dotCMS, a popular content management system used in cloud environments. The vendor has addressed the issue in versions 25.08.14, 25.07.10-1v2 LTS, 24.12.27v10 LTS, and 24.04.24v21 LTS. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 9.4 (critical), reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, no user interaction, and the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently observed in the wild, but the ease of exploitation and severity make this a significant threat for organizations relying on dotCMS Cloud Services.

For European organizations using dotCMS Cloud Services, this vulnerability poses a severe risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including potentially personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Privilege escalation could allow attackers to gain administrative control, facilitating further compromise or persistent access. Denial-of-service attacks could disrupt critical web content delivery, impacting business operations and customer experience. Given dotCMS's use in various sectors such as media, publishing, and enterprise content management, the impact could extend to critical infrastructure and services. The breach of confidentiality and integrity could also undermine trust in digital services and lead to financial losses. Organizations in Europe must consider the regulatory implications of data breaches and the operational risks associated with service outages caused by this vulnerability.

Organizations should urgently upgrade affected dotCMS Cloud Services instances to the fixed versions: 25.08.14, 25.07.10-1v2 LTS, 24.12.27v10 LTS, or 24.04.24v21 LTS. Until patching is complete, implement strict input validation and sanitization on the 'sites' parameter at the application or web application firewall (WAF) level to block suspicious payloads indicative of SQL injection attempts. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) if available to detect and prevent injection attacks in real time. Review and tighten authentication and authorization controls to limit the privileges of users who can access the vulnerable endpoint, reducing the attack surface. Conduct thorough logging and monitoring of API access patterns to detect anomalous queries or repeated failed attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, perform regular database backups and ensure incident response plans are updated to address potential data exfiltration or service disruption scenarios. Engage with dotCMS support for guidance on secure configuration and consider penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of mitigations.