CVE-2026-54540Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via shell substitution

Published Jul 27, 2026 · Updated Jul 27, 2026

OS command injection in Pheditor before 2.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute shell commands through the terminal feature. The terminal handler in pheditor.php accepts a command whose prefix matches TERMINAL_COMMANDS and passes the entire string to shell_exec() without blocking $() substitution. Terminal permission and a configured restricted allowlist are required; injected commands run with the web server user's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Pheditor before 2.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute shell commands through the terminal feature. The terminal handler in pheditor.php accepts a command whose prefix matches TERMINAL_COMMANDS and passes the entire string to shell_exec() without blocking $() substitution. Terminal permission and a configured restricted allowlist are required; injected commands run with the web server user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-54540
Published
Jul 27, 2026
Updated
Jul 27, 2026
Vendor
Pheditor
Product
Pheditor
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 27, 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=< 2.0.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Pheditor · Pheditorversion=< 2.0.5

Published CVSS scores

8.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

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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