CVE-2021-26040Network attack vector

Media file deletion via unchecked permissions

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Feb 25, 2026

Incorrect access control in Joomla! CMS 4.0.0 allows remote attackers to delete media files through the com_media deletion endpoint. The media manager passes deletion requests to its filesystem adapter without correctly enforcing the caller's permission for that operation. Reachability depends on exposure of the endpoint, and a successful request removes writable media content from the site.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability0.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect access control in Joomla! CMS 4.0.0 allows remote attackers to delete media files through the com_media deletion endpoint. The media manager passes deletion requests to its filesystem adapter without correctly enforcing the caller's permission for that operation. Reachability depends on exposure of the endpoint, and a successful request removes writable media content from the site.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-26040
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Feb 25, 2026
Vendor
Joomla! Project
Product
Joomla! CMS
Classifications
CWE-863, T1485, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Joomla! Project · Joomla! CMSversion=4.0.0

Published CVSS scores

9.1NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
6.4NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1485Data Destruction
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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