# CVE-2022-45134: Deserialization in n/a

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code by uploading a malicious XML file during the skin import process in Mahara.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 26 Aug 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-77p7-jp5j-xxqj

## What is CVE-2022-45134?

CVE-2022-45134 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Mahara Mahara, published on 22 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Mahara 21.10 before 21.10.6, 22.04 before 22.04.4, and 22.10 before 22.10.1 deserializes user input unsafely during skin import. A particularly structured XML file could cause code execution when being processed.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-45134?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mahara Mahara.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-45134?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-45134 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-45134 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-45134 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Mahara Mahara

- [CVE-2022-44544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44544/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-40849](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40849/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000152](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000152/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000153](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000153/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000154](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000154/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-45134 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-45134 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Mahara Mahara, published on 22 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-45134 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Mahara Mahara. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45134/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45134/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-45134
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-45134
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-45134

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45134/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.