# CVE-2025-54287: Arbitrary File Read via Template Injection in Snapshot Patterns

> Attackers with instance configuration permissions can read arbitrary host files via template injection in LXD snapshot patterns.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Oct 2025
- **Updated:** 2 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2025-54287, GHSA-w2hg-2v4p-vmh6, GO-2025-4004

## What is CVE-2025-54287?

CVE-2025-54287 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Canonical LXD, published on 2 Oct 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Template Injection in instance snapshot creation component in Canonical LXD (>= 4.0) allows an attacker with instance configuration 
permissions to read arbitrary files on the host system via specially crafted snapshot pattern templates using the Pongo2 template engine.

Weakness: CWE-1336 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-54287?

8 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/lxc/lxd and github.com/lxc/lxd/v6. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd` | Go | All versions | None |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd` | Go | From 0.0.0-20200331193331-03aab09f5b5c | 0.0.0-20250827065555-0494f5d47e41 |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd` | Go | From 0.0.0-20200331193331-03aab09f5b5c | 0.0.0-20250827065555-0494f5d47e41 |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd` | Go | From 4.0.0 | 5.21.4 |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd` | Go | From 4.0.0 | 5.21.4 |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd` | Go | From 6.0.0 | 6.5.0 |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd` | Go | From 6.0.0 | 6.5.0 |
| `github.com/lxc/lxd/v6` | Go | All versions | None |

Products: Canonical Lxd.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-54287?

Upgrade github.com/lxc/lxd to a fixed version for your release line: 0.0.0-20250827065555-0494f5d47e41, 5.21.4 or 6.5.0.

## Is CVE-2025-54287 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-54287 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical LXD

- [CVE-2026-66897](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-66897/): Instance template path traversal allows arbitrary host file write as root (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-62420](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-62420/): Cross-project cluster migration bypasses project restrictions via cluster notification flag (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-63293](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63293/): Arbitrary File Read/Write: metadata.yaml symlink in image allows host filesystem access as root (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-63294](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63294/): Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-63296](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63296/): Project restriction bypass via instance migration config override (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-54287 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-54287 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Canonical LXD, published on 2 Oct 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-54287 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/lxc/lxd (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed
- github.com/lxc/lxd (Go): affected from 0.0.0-20200331193331-03aab09f5b5c; fixed in 0.0.0-20250827065555-0494f5d47e41
- github.com/lxc/lxd (Go): affected from 0.0.0-20200331193331-03aab09f5b5c; fixed in 0.0.0-20250827065555-0494f5d47e41
- github.com/lxc/lxd (Go): affected from 4.0.0; fixed in 5.21.4
- github.com/lxc/lxd (Go): affected from 4.0.0; fixed in 5.21.4
- github.com/lxc/lxd (Go): affected from 6.0.0; fixed in 6.5.0
- github.com/lxc/lxd (Go): affected from 6.0.0; fixed in 6.5.0
- github.com/lxc/lxd/v6 (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed

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-2025-54287/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-54287/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-54287
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-54287
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-54287

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-54287/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.