CVE-2025-50194
OS Command Injection in Chamilo /main/cron/lang/check_parse_lang.php
Publication date: 2026-03-02
Last updated on: 2026-03-03
Assigner: GitHub, Inc.
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| chamilo | chamilo_lms | to 1.11.30 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-78 | The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'CVE-2025-50194 is an OS Command Injection vulnerability in Chamilo LMS versions up to 1.11.28, patched in version 1.11.30.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'The vulnerability exists in the file /main/cron/lang/check_parse_lang.php, where user-supplied input is insufficiently validated before being passed to the operating system shell.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'An attacker with administrator privileges can exploit this by enabling the "Allow definition and use of sub-languages" option, then creating a sub-language with a specially crafted payload in the "English name" field.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'This payload is used to create a directory with a name containing the injected command, which is then executed when the vulnerable script is accessed.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'The vulnerability allows execution of arbitrary system commands on the application server within the context of the Chamilo LMS process.'}] [1]
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can allow an attacker with administrator privileges to execute arbitrary system commands on the server hosting Chamilo LMS.
The impact includes low confidentiality impact but high integrity and availability impact, meaning the attacker could modify or disrupt system operations.
For example, an attacker could upload a web shell to the server, enabling remote control or further exploitation.
Because exploitation requires administrator access, the risk is limited to users with high privileges, but the attack complexity is low and no user interaction is needed once the payload is set.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'This vulnerability can be detected by checking if your Chamilo LMS installation is running a version prior to 1.11.30, as those versions are vulnerable.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Specifically, the vulnerable component is the script located at /main/cron/lang/check_parse_lang.php, which executes shell commands on language files without proper sanitization.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "Detection can involve verifying if the 'Allow definition and use of sub-languages' option is enabled in the administration settings, since exploitation requires this setting."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "To detect exploitation attempts or presence of malicious payloads, you can look for suspicious directory names created by crafted payloads in the sub-language 'English name' field, which may contain injected commands."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'While no explicit commands are provided in the resources, a practical approach includes searching for unusual directories or files created under the language directories, and monitoring access logs for requests to /main/cron/lang/check_parse_lang.php.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "For example, on the server, you might run commands like: \n- `find /path/to/chamilo/main/cron/lang/ -type f -name '*.php'` to check for unexpected PHP files (potential web shells).\n- `grep -r 'sub-language' /path/to/chamilo/` to find suspicious sub-language definitions.\n- Reviewing web server logs for accesses to /main/cron/lang/check_parse_lang.php that might indicate exploitation attempts."}] [1]
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'The primary mitigation step is to upgrade Chamilo LMS to version 1.11.30 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "If upgrading immediately is not possible, you should disable the 'Allow definition and use of sub-languages' option in the administration settings to prevent exploitation."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "Additional mitigation measures include implementing strict input validation and sanitization on user-supplied inputs, especially the 'English name' field when creating sub-languages."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'The patch introduced a sanitization function `api_replace_dangerous_char()` to neutralize harmful characters in input, so applying similar input sanitization manually can help mitigate risk.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Conduct thorough source code analysis to identify and remediate any other vulnerable or outdated methods that may allow command injection.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Monitor your system for suspicious activity, such as unexpected directories or files created by crafted payloads, and restrict administrator privileges to trusted users only.'}] [1, 2]