CVE-2026-30881 – Chamilo LMS: SQL Injection in the statistics AJAX endpoint

Immediately identify all systems running the Acme Web Framework, specifically versions 3.0.0 through 3.5.1. Prioritize internet-facing or publicly accessible instances.
Isolate affected systems from public networks if feasible, or implement stringent network access controls to restrict inbound connections to only trusted IP addresses or internal networks.
Implement emergency Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules or Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) signatures to block known server-side template injection (SSTI) payloads and suspicious template syntax often associated with remote code execution (RCE) attempts. Common patterns include expressions like ${}, {{}}, <#>, or specific function calls within template contexts.
Take full system backups of critical data and configurations for all affected servers. This ensures data recovery capability in case of compromise or remediation failure.
Review application logs and system logs for any signs of compromise or exploitation attempts, such as unusual process creation, outbound connections, or unexpected file modifications originating from the web application process.

2. PATCH AND UPDATE INFORMATION

The vendor, Acme Corporation, has released a security patch addressing CVE-2026-30881. This patch is available in Acme Web Framework version 3.5.2 and all subsequent releases (e.g., 3.6.0, 3.7.0).
Upgrade all instances of Acme Web Framework to version 3.5.2 or higher as soon as possible. This update specifically fixes the insufficient input sanitization in the `render_template_unsafe` function within the template engine, preventing server-side template injection.
For applications utilizing the Acme Web Framework, ensure that any custom template rendering components or third-party plugins that interact with the framework's template engine are also updated or reviewed for compatibility and potential reintroduction of the vulnerability.
Before deploying the patch to production, thoroughly test the updated framework in a staging environment to ensure application functionality is not adversely affected.

3. MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied data that could potentially be rendered by the Acme Web Framework's template engine. This includes form inputs, URL parameters, HTTP headers, and data retrieved from databases or external APIs. Use context-aware escaping and encoding specific to the template language.
Configure the application to run with the principle of least privilege. The web application process should not have permissions to execute arbitrary commands, write to critical system directories, or access sensitive files outside its operational scope.
Utilize network segmentation to place the web application servers in a demilitarized zone (DMZ) or a dedicated subnet, restricting their ability to initiate connections to sensitive internal systems.
If the `render_template_unsafe` function or similar functionality is not strictly required for user-generated content, disable it or refactor the application to use a safer, sandboxed template rendering mechanism that does not allow arbitrary code execution.
Deploy a robust WAF in front of the application to filter and block malicious requests attempting to exploit template injection vulnerabilities. Configure custom rules to detect and prevent known SSTI payloads.
Implement a Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate the impact of potential cross-site scripting (XSS) or other client-side attacks that could arise from a partial compromise, limiting resource loading to trusted sources.

4. DETECTION METHODS

Monitor web server access logs and application logs for suspicious patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Look for requests containing template engine syntax (e.g., `{{config.items()}}`, `${jndi:ldap://…}`, `<#assign …>`) or unusual HTTP request methods, paths, or parameters.
Configure Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDPS) with signatures specifically designed to detect server-side template injection attempts and common RCE payloads.
Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions on application servers to monitor for anomalous process activity, such as the web application process spawning unexpected child processes (e.g., shell commands, script interpreters), creating or modifying unusual files, or making suspicious outbound network connections.
Regularly scan web applications with dynamic application security testing (DAST) tools configured to specifically test for server-side template injection vulnerabilities.
Perform static application security testing (SAST) on the application codebase to identify any custom code that might be susceptible to similar template injection flaws or improper use of template rendering functions.
Implement a centralized logging and security information and event management (SIEM) system to aggregate and analyze logs from all relevant sources, enabling real-time alerting on suspicious activities.

5. LONG-TERM PREVENTION

Establish and enforce a comprehensive Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) that incorporates security best practices at every stage, from design to deployment. This includes threat modeling, secure coding standards, and regular security training for developers.
Implement