elFinder: SSRF protection bypass via DNS rebinding in the `fsock_get_contents()` fallback
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-918 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
elFinder is an open-source file manager for web, written in JavaScript using jQuery UI. Prior to 2.1.70, elFinder URL uploads in php/elFinder.class.php can bypass server-side request forgery protections when PHP cURL is unavailable because validate_address() validates $info['ip'], but get_remote_contents() selects fsock_get_contents(), which connects to $arr['host'] and performs a second DNS resolution. An attacker able to submit a URL upload can use DNS rebinding to have the first resolution return a public address and the connection resolution return a loopback or private address, causing the internal HTTP response body to be stored as an uploaded file and made readable through elFinder. After a successful fetch, get_headers($url, true) separately requests the original hostname without reusing the validated and pinned connection, creating an additional blind server-side request forgery path even when curl_get_contents() is selected. This issue is fixed in version 2.1.70.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio-42 | elFinder | before 2.1.70 | 2.1.70 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | studio-42/elfinder (Packagist) | before 2.1.70 | 2.1.70 | Patch available | GHSA-8x3q-jpjh-qh5c |
- elFinder VendorStudio-42 Affected before 2.1.70 Fixed in 2.1.70 Patch available CNA
- studio-42/elfinder (Packagist) Vendor— Affected before 2.1.70 Fixed in 2.1.70 Patch available GHSA-8x3q-jpjh-qh5c
Remediation
- Fix · CNA elFinder (Studio-42) Fixed in 2.1.70
- Fix · GHSA-8x3q-jpjh-qh5c studio-42/elfinder (Packagist) Fixed in 2.1.70 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-81889
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8x3q-jpjh-qh5c
References
Other 5
- https://github.com/Studio-42/elFinder/security/advisories/GHSA-8x3q-jpjh-qh5c
- https://github.com/Studio-42/elFinder/commit/191372c1bbebbd36fb55af79a84b9984861390ff
- https://github.com/Studio-42/elFinder/commit/6d997386cd0f1abab4706c220b46b0aea0ecff51
- https://github.com/Studio-42/elFinder/releases/tag/2.1.70
- https://github.com/Studio-42/elFinder
More Studio-42 vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-56501 elFinder: CSRF in netmount allows forced FTP mounts and server-side FTP connections CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.4
- TI-2026-32450 elFinder: SQL Injection MySQL Volume Driver (elFinderVolumeMySQL) CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-56502 elFinder: ZIP extraction bypasses uploadDeny MIME filter allowing PHP file upload (RCE) CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
Sources
- CVE-2026-81889 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-81889 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8x3q-jpjh-qh5c · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences