Unauthenticated server-path disclosure via unguarded PHP files
Published Aug 31, 2022 · Updated Feb 25, 2026
Full-path disclosure in Joomla! CMS 4.2.0 allows remote attackers to read server filesystem paths through direct PHP-file requests. PSR-12 changes removed _JEXEC execution guards from many PHP source files, so direct requests run them without Joomla's bootstrap and fatal unresolved-class errors print absolute filenames. Exploitation requires affected files to remain web-reachable and PHP error output to be displayed; the disclosed paths reveal deployment layout but do not directly modify data or interrupt service.
Summary
What happened
Full-path disclosure in Joomla! CMS 4.2.0 allows remote attackers to read server filesystem paths through direct PHP-file requests. PSR-12 changes removed _JEXEC execution guards from many PHP source files, so direct requests run them without Joomla's bootstrap and fatal unresolved-class errors print absolute filenames. Exploitation requires affected files to remain web-reachable and PHP error output to be displayed; the disclosed paths reveal deployment layout but do not directly modify data or interrupt service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-27911
- Published
- Aug 31, 2022
- Updated
- Feb 25, 2026
- Vendor
- Joomla! Project
- Product
- Joomla! CMS
- Classifications
- T1083
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 31, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=4.2.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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