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TI-2026-40197 Aliases CVE-2026-55676

Malcolm vulnerable to RCE via unrestricted .php upload to the file-upload component

Priority MEDIUM 41CWE-434Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-434.

Summary

Malcolm is a network traffic analysis tool suite. The file-upload component (FilePond PHP backend) accepts uploads at `POST /server/php/submit.php` and stores them in a directory served by the same nginx and php-fpm instance. The allow-list that should restrict accepted file types is an empty array by default (`file-upload/php/config.php:16`), so the type check is a no-op and every extension is accepted. The filename sanitizer keeps the `.php` extension intact. Committed files land in `/var/www/upload/server/php/files` (`file-upload/php/config.php:7`), and the component's nginx routes any URL ending in `.php` to php-fpm. An authenticated `GET /server/php/files/<name>.php` then executes the uploaded code as `www-data`. Prior to version 26.06.1, in RBAC mode, the upload endpoint is reachable by the granular `ROLE_UPLOAD` role (`nginx/lua/nginx_auth_helpers.lua:71`), a role intended only for submitting capture files. As a result, a user holding the upload-only role runs arbitrary PHP as `www-data` inside the file-upload container. Version 26.06.1 fixes the issue.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00601 49th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Malcolm (cisagov): 26.06.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
cisagovMalcolmbefore 26.06.126.06.1Patch availableCNA
  • Malcolm Vendorcisagov Affected before 26.06.1 Fixed in 26.06.1 Patch available CNA

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Malcolm (cisagov) Fixed in 26.06.1

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-55676

References

  • TI-2026-45069 Malcolm has Uncontrolled Resource Consumption in Archive Extraction (Inode-Exhaustion DoS) CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
  • TI-2026-15970 Improper handling of highly compressed data (data amplification) in CISA Malcolm CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
  • TI-2026-45070 Malcolm's Path Traversal in Archive Extraction Allows Arbitrary Directory Creation CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.3
  • TI-2026-15969 Incorrect Authorization in CISA Malcolm CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.3
  • TI-2026-45083 Malcolm Vulnerable to Authorization Bypass via URI Normalization Differential in Nginx Lua RBAC CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences