CVE-2021-36424Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated PHP execution via faulty quote escaping

Published Feb 3, 2023 · Updated Mar 26, 2025

Code injection in phpwcms 1.9.25 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP via the database-user field during installation. The write_conf_file function escapes apostrophes without correctly handling a preceding backslash, then embeds the value in generated PHP configuration. The setup wizard must remain reachable and installation incomplete; loading the generated configuration executes the injected code.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in phpwcms 1.9.25 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP via the database-user field during installation. The write_conf_file function escapes apostrophes without correctly handling a preceding backslash, then embeds the value in generated PHP configuration. The setup wizard must remain reachable and installation incomplete; loading the generated configuration executes the injected code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36424
Published
Feb 3, 2023
Updated
Mar 26, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-94, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 26, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

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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