CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-55240NVD status: Deferred

tianji: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-55240 is a critical-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in a template engine vulnerability in tianji from Msgbyte, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected tianji versions: < 1.31.29. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.75% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 55% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of tianji you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Msgbytetianji< 1.31.29Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

Tianji is an open source analytics, uptime monitoring, and server status platform. Prior to 1.31.29, formatString() in src/server/utils/template.ts passes survey feedTemplate and monitor notification templates to lodash template(), while the default evaluate pattern remains enabled. A workspace administrator can store an evaluate block using the <% code %> form, and the public survey.submit endpoint renders a survey template when an unauthenticated user submits a response. The compiled template executes server-side JavaScript in the Tianji Node.js process, allowing command execution, secret disclosure, data modification, or service disruption. This issue is fixed in version 1.31.29.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine

The product uses a template engine to insert or process externally-influenced input, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements or syntax that can be interpreted as template expressions or other code directives when processed by the engine.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Choose a template engine that offers a sandbox or restricted mode, or at least limits the power of any available expressions, function calls, or commands.
  • Use the template engine's sandbox or restricted mode, if available.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine vulnerabilities (CWE-1336)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in tianji

All tianji vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine vulnerabilities

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