CVE-2017-5344
The findChildrenByFilter() function which is called by the web accessible path /categoriesServlet performs string interpolation and direct SQL query execution.
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB (verified) and the impact is critical, while EPSS rates exploitation at 6.3%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
An issue was discovered in dotCMS through 3.6.1. The findChildrenByFilter() function which is called by the web accessible path /categoriesServlet performs string interpolation and direct SQL query execution. SQL quote escaping and a keyword blacklist were implemented in a new class, SQLUtil (main/java/com/dotmarketing/common/util/SQLUtil.java), as part of the remediation of CVE-2016-8902; however, these can be overcome in the case of the q and inode parameters to the /categoriesServlet path. Overcoming these controls permits a number of blind boolean SQL injection vectors in either parameter. The /categoriesServlet web path can be accessed remotely and without authentication in a default dotCMS deployment.
- CVSS 3.0
- 9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 6.30% probability · 94th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 16 February 2017
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-89
- Affected
- dotcms/dotcms
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS moved from 4.5% on 21 September 2026 to 6.3% on 27 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://dotcms.com/security/SI-39Vendor Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Feb/34Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96259
- https://github.com/xdrr/webapp-exploits/blob/master/vendors/dotcms/2017.01.blind-sqli/dotcms-dump.shExploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41377/
- http://dotcms.com/security/SI-39Vendor Advisory
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Feb/34Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96259
- https://github.com/xdrr/webapp-exploits/blob/master/vendors/dotcms/2017.01.blind-sqli/dotcms-dump.shExploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41377/
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.