Cybersecurity professionals consider CVE-2026-28228 an immediate threat requiring urgent mitigation.
Status: Received on 30 Mar 2026, 21:17 UTC
Published on: 30 Mar 2026, 21:17 UTC
CVSS Release: version 3
security-advisories@github.com
Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVE-2026-28228: OpenOlat is an open source web-based e-learning platform for teaching, learning, assessment and communication. Prior to versions 19.1.31, 20.1.18, and 20.2.5, an authenticated user with the Author role can inject Velocity directives into a reminder email template. When the reminder is processed (either triggered manually or via the daily cron job), the injected directives are evaluated server-side. By chaining Velocity's #set directive with Java reflection, an attacker can instantiate arbitrary Java classes such as java.lang.ProcessBuilder and execute operating system commands with the privileges of the Tomcat process (typically root in containerized deployments). This issue has been patched in versions 19.1.31, 20.1.18, and 20.2.5.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-28228 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
CVE-2026-28228 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-28228, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-28228, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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