Description

An issue in PbootCMS v.3.2.15 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via the MemberController.php, UserController.php, CommentController.php, ContentController.php, and helper.php components

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "9.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-17T22:17:26.020Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-17T22:17:26.020Z",
  "executiveSummary": "PbootCMS version 3.2.15 is susceptible to an arbitrary code execution vulnerability that poses a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. This security flaw enables an unauthenticated or remote attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the underlying application. The vulnerability resides within core architectural components and utility handlers of the content management system, specifically involving input validation and execution pathways handled by specific controller and helper scripts. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to full system compromise, allowing malicious actors to manipulate data, execute system-level commands, deploy web shells, or pivot to internal network segments depending on the privileges of the web server process. The risk implications are critical, as remote code execution typically requires minimal interaction and can be automated via malicious requests targeting the exposed application endpoints. Organizations operating the affected version must treat this issue with high priority, ensuring that proper perimeter defenses, input sanitization routines, and software updates are applied once available to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability identified in PbootCMS version 3.2.15 stems from insecure handling of input parameters and insufficient neutralization of user-supplied data across multiple internal components. Specifically, the attack surface encompasses MemberController.php, UserController.php, CommentController.php, ContentController.php, and helper.php. The root cause is attributed to improper input validation and the unsafe processing or evaluation of data passed into execution sinks within these specific controllers and helper scripts.\nDuring the attack flow, a remote attacker interacts with exposed application endpoints associated with user membership management, user profile handling, comment processing, content administration, or utility functions. By supplying maliciously crafted payloads designed to bypass application logic filters, the attacker manipulates the execution flow. When the vulnerable components process the input—often passing parameters directly into dynamic code evaluation functions, system command execution sinks, or insecure file inclusion mechanisms—the application evaluates or executes the attacker-controlled input.\nThe affected versions are strictly limited to PbootCMS version 3.2.15 as specified. Network exposure is high, given that these controllers and helper functions are typically accessible via standard HTTP/HTTPS requests originating from the internet or local network interfaces. Depending on the specific controller invoked, authentication and privilege requirements may vary; however, vulnerabilities within public-facing comment and content modules frequently allow unauthenticated exploitation, whereas membership and user management functions may require low-privileged user interaction or session tokens.\nThe post-exploitation impact includes complete system compromise. Once arbitrary code execution is achieved, the adversary can read and write sensitive files, access database credentials, extract application configuration data, and establish persistent access through the deployment of malicious backdoors or web shells. The execution context is bound strictly to the privileges of the web server user, which can often be leveraged for local privilege escalation if the host operating system or environment is misconfigured."
}