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CVE-2026-42238

Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Backup Restore in nginx-ui

Published: May 4, 2026Updated: May 6, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVD BDUCWE-94
NVD MITRE
9.8CVSSCRITICAL
EPSS Score
0.8%
Top 49.4%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
Patch Available

Description

Nginx UI is a web user interface for the Nginx web server. Prior to version 2.3.8, nginx-ui exposes a backup restore endpoint (POST /api/restore) that is completely unauthenticated during the first 10 minutes after process startup on any fresh installation. An unauthenticated remote attacker can upload a crafted backup archive that overwrites the application's configuration file (app.ini) and SQLite database. Because the attacker controls the restored app.ini, they can inject an arbitrary OS command into the TestConfigCmd setting. After the application automatically restarts to apply the restored config, a single follow-up request triggers that command as the user running nginx-ui — typically root in Docker deployments. This issue has been patched in version 2.3.8.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
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Weaknesses

CWE-94

Affected Products

nginx-ui0xJacky
Mixed
Cloud & SaaS / saas-application
nginx uinginxui
On-prem
Networking Infrastructure / network-management
Nginx UIСообщество свободного программного обеспечения
On-prem
Web & CMS Plugins
0xjackyindividual-devCloud & SaaSaka nginx-ui
nginxuicommercialNetworking Infrastructureaka nginx ui, nginxui
сообщество свободного программного обеспеченияoss-projectOperating Systemsaka сообщество свободного программного обеспечения, fsf

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

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Exploitability

Official Patch Available

MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Execution
Initial Access
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/security/advisories/GHSA-4pvg-prr3-9cxr
github.com
https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/releases/tag/v2.3.8
github.com
https://securityonline.info/nginx-ui-rce-vulnerability-cve-2026-42238-auth-bypass/
securityonline.info
and 1 more references View all →

Timeline

Published
May 4, 2026
Last Updated
May 6, 2026

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