Arbitrary file deletion via object injection
Published Aug 16, 2026 · Updated Aug 17, 2026
PHP object injection in Podlove Podcast Publisher before 4.5.4 allows remote authenticated users to delete arbitrary files via shownotes requests. The shownotes REST handlers create_item and create_link_item accepted client-set unfurl_data and other assigned properties, and the model layer persisted them with maybe_serialize until unserialization could populate Podlove\ImageCache\GenerationGuard with an attacker-controlled lock path. Contributor-level or higher access to edit shownotes is required, and the built-in destructor chain deletes the chosen path through wp_delete_file, enabling arbitrary file deletion and possible code execution if a critical PHP file is removed.
Summary
What happened
PHP object injection in Podlove Podcast Publisher before 4.5.4 allows remote authenticated users to delete arbitrary files via shownotes requests. The shownotes REST handlers create_item and create_link_item accepted client-set unfurl_data and other assigned properties, and the model layer persisted them with maybe_serialize until unserialization could populate Podlove\ImageCache\GenerationGuard with an attacker-controlled lock path. Contributor-level or higher access to edit shownotes is required, and the built-in destructor chain deletes the chosen path through wp_delete_file, enabling arbitrary file deletion and possible code execution if a critical PHP file is removed.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-16099
- Published
- Aug 16, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 17, 2026
- Vendor
- Alexander Lueken
- Product
- Podlove Podcast Publisher
- Classifications
- CWE-502, T1485
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 17, 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=0 <=4.5.3
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.
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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