CVE-2026-41887

Flarum: Path traversal in LESS parser via theme color settings (incomplete fix for CVE-2023-27577)

Published May 8, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.9 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Flarum is open-source forum software. Prior to versions 1.8.16 and 2.0.0-rc.1, Flarum's patch for CVE-2023-27577 restricted the @import and data-uri() LESS features in the custom_less setting, but the same restriction was never applied to other settings registered as LESS config variables (for example theme_primary_color and theme_secondary_color, as well as any key registered via Extend\Settings::registerLessConfigVar()). Those values are interpolated verbatim into the LESS source at compile time, allowing an authenticated administrator to craft a theme-color value that injects an arbitrary @import directive into the compiled forum.css. Because the underlying LESS parser honours @import (inline) '<path>', an attacker can read arbitrary files reachable by the PHP process (local file inclusion) or trigger outbound HTTP(S) requests (server-side request forgery). This issue has been patched in versions 1.8.16 and 2.0.0-rc.1.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-xjvc-pw2r-6878 Flarum: Path traversal in LESS parser via theme color settings (incomplete fix for CVE-2023-27577)
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Flarum
Flarum framework
Vendors & Products Flarum
Flarum framework
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Flarum is open-source forum software. Prior to versions 1.8.16 and 2.0.0-rc.1, Flarum's patch for CVE-2023-27577 restricted the @import and data-uri() LESS features in the custom_less setting, but the same restriction was never applied to other settings registered as LESS config variables (for example theme_primary_color and theme_secondary_color, as well as any key registered via Extend\Settings::registerLessConfigVar()). Those values are interpolated verbatim into the LESS source at compile time, allowing an authenticated administrator to craft a theme-color value that injects an arbitrary @import directive into the compiled forum.css. Because the underlying LESS parser honours @import (inline) '<path>', an attacker can read arbitrary files reachable by the PHP process (local file inclusion) or trigger outbound HTTP(S) requests (server-side request forgery). This issue has been patched in versions 1.8.16 and 2.0.0-rc.1.
Title Flarum: Path traversal in LESS parser via theme color settings (incomplete fix for CVE-2023-27577)
Weaknesses CWE-22
CWE-918
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
May 8, 2026, 7:26 PM
Reserved
Apr 22, 2026, 3:11 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
May 8, 2026, 5:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 6:10 PM