Impact

This is an unsafe file upload validation vulnerability that can lead to remote code execution in vulnerable application configurations.

Applications are impacted when they:

• validate uploads using is_image or mime_in without an independent safe extension check, such as ext_in on patched versions
• save uploaded files using the client-supplied filename
• place uploads in a web-accessible directory where PHP files can execute

Patches

Upgrade to v4.7.4 or later.

Workarounds

• Save uploads outside the public web root, preferably under writable/uploads.
• Use $file->store() or $file->move($path, $file->getRandomName()) instead of preserving the original client filename.
• Disable script execution in any public upload directory.
• Manually verify the client filename extension before moving the file.
• For image uploads, reject files when $file->getClientExtension() is not an allowed image extension.
• For exact MIME-type validation, reject files when $file->getClientExtension() does not match $file->guessExtension().

References

• GHSA-2gr4-ppc7-7mhx: Uploaded file extension validation bypass in ext_in
• CodeIgniter4 uploaded files documentation
• CodeIgniter4 file upload validation documentation
• CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
• OWASP File Upload Cheat Sheet