Drupal Release: 8.5.13

TL;DR

Drupal 8.5.13 is a minor security release that fixes a critical issue with Twig templates using embed tags. This update prevents fatal errors that occurred when using the Twig templating engine after it was updated to v1.38.2 in previous releases. The fix ensures template rendering works correctly for sites using embed tags in their Twig templates.

Highlight of the Release

• Fixed a critical issue with Twig templates using embed tags that caused fatal errors
• Addressed compatibility problems with Twig v1.38.2
• Improved stability for sites using embed tags in their templates

Migration Guide

No migration steps are required for this update. This is a straightforward bugfix release that can be applied using standard update procedures:

1. Back up your database and site files
2. Put your site into maintenance mode
3. Update Drupal core to version 8.5.13
4. Run the database update script by visiting /update.php
5. Take your site out of maintenance mode

No configuration changes or additional steps are needed after updating.

Upgrade Recommendations

Recommended for all Drupal 8.5.x sites

This update is strongly recommended for all sites running Drupal 8.5.x, especially those using Twig templates with embed tags. The fix prevents fatal errors that could make your site inaccessible.

If you're running an older version of Drupal 8.5.x, you should update to this version as soon as possible to ensure template rendering works correctly.

For sites already on Drupal 8.6.x or newer, this specific fix was already included in Drupal 8.6.11 and later versions.

Bug Fixes

Fixed Twig Template Fatal Error

This release fixes a critical issue (#3040210) where sites using Twig embed tags in their templates would encounter fatal errors after updating to Twig v1.38.2. The problem occurred because of incompatibilities between Drupal's implementation and changes in the Twig library.

The fix ensures that Twig templates with embed tags render correctly, preventing site crashes and maintaining backward compatibility with existing templates.

New Features

No new features were added in this release. This is a bugfix release focused on resolving a critical issue with Twig templates.

Security Updates

While this release addresses a critical issue that could cause site failures, it does not specifically fix any documented security vulnerabilities. However, keeping your Drupal installation updated is always recommended for security purposes.

Performance Improvements

No specific performance improvements were included in this release. The focus was on fixing the critical Twig template issue.

Impact Summary

Drupal 8.5.13 addresses a critical compatibility issue between Drupal's template system and Twig v1.38.2 that caused fatal errors when using embed tags in templates. This release ensures that sites using embed tags in their Twig templates continue to function properly without crashes or rendering failures.

The impact is primarily positive for site stability and developer experience, as it removes a significant obstacle that could prevent sites from functioning correctly. No new features or API changes were introduced, making this a safe update focused solely on fixing the template rendering issue.

Site administrators should apply this update promptly to prevent potential template rendering problems, especially if their sites use themes or modules that implement Twig embed tags.