CVE-2026-46633: Twig: PHP code injection via `{% use %}` template name

Should you act?

Normal patch cycle

No exploitation signal; fix it in your next routine update if you are affected. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
• EPSS 0.7%, percentile 52: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 52% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes twig/twig (Composer (PHP)) < 3.26.0, fixed in 3.26.0. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

Twig is a template language for PHP. Prior to 3.26.0, Compiler::string() does not escape single quotes when a template name from a {% use %} tag is placed inside a PHP single-quoted string literal, allowing a crafted template name to terminate the string and inject arbitrary PHP expressions into the compiled cache file. This issue is fixed in version 3.26.0.

From the GitHub advisory

Description

Compiler::string() escapes ", $, \, NUL and TAB when generating PHP double-quoted string literals, but does not escape single quotes. In ModuleNode::compileConstructor(), the template name from a {% use %} tag is compiled via subcompile() -> string() and placed inside a surrounding PHP single-quoted string literal. A template name containing a single quote terminates that surrounding string early, allowing arbitrary PHP expressions to be injected into the compiled cache file.

The injected code executes within the PHP process when the cache file is first loaded, bypassing the Twig sandbox entirely and achieving remote code execution. SecurityPolicy unconditionally allows {% use %} regardless of the configured allowedTags, so this primitive is reachable from sandboxed templates as well.

Resolution

Compiler::string() now also escapes single quotes so that template names placed inside single-quoted PHP literals can no longer break out of the surrounding context.

Weakness type: CWE-94.

Product: twig/twig (Composer (PHP)) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2026-07-14

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Attack requirements: none
• Privileges required: low (any account)
• User interaction: none

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.69% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 52.

Timeline

• 2026-05-21 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-7p85-w9px-jpjp published (critical)
• 2026-07-14 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2026-07-16 — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vulnerability records

1. GitHub Advisory GHSA-7p85-w9px-jpjp github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2026-46633 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2026-46633 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. github.com github.com
2. github.com github.com
3. github.com github.com
4. github.com github.com
5. github.com github.com
6. symfony.com symfony.com

Critical Composer (PHP) advisories · Today’s Security Digest