Summary
SilverStripe Subsite weakens file permissions
The subsites module can weaken edit restrictions on some files and allow a malicious user to edit files they do not have edit rights to.
This only affects projects with the subsites module installed. Regression testing should focus on custom file logic.
Be advised that this is not a case of a user being able to edit a file in subsites they do not have access to. As a reminder, all separation of content achieved with the subsites module should be viewed as cosmetic and not appropriate for security-critical applications.
Impact
A file, directory, or other resource is assigned permissions that allow broader access than intended. Typical impact: unauthorized read, modification, or execution of the resource.
CVE-2022-42949 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2.6.1); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2022-42949? CVE-2022-42949 is a medium-severity incorrect permission assignment for critical resource vulnerability in silverstripe/subsites (composer), affecting versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.6.1. It is fixed in 2.6.1. A file, directory, or other resource is assigned permissions that allow broader access than intended.
- How severe is CVE-2022-42949? CVE-2022-42949 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of silverstripe/subsites are affected by CVE-2022-42949? silverstripe/subsites (composer) versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.6.1 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2022-42949? Yes. CVE-2022-42949 is fixed in 2.6.1. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2022-42949 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2022-42949 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2022-42949 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2022-42949? Upgrade
silverstripe/subsitesto 2.6.1 or later.