CVE-2026-42238: CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') in 0xJacky nginx-ui
CVE-2026-42238 is a critical code injection vulnerability in 0xJacky's nginx-ui versions prior to 2. 3. 8. The issue arises because the backup restore endpoint is unauthenticated for the first 10 minutes after startup on fresh installations, allowing remote attackers to upload malicious backup archives. By controlling the restored configuration file, attackers can inject arbitrary OS commands that execute with the privileges of the nginx-ui process, often root in Docker environments. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2. 3. 8.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability in nginx-ui (versions before 2.3.8) involves an unauthenticated backup restore API endpoint accessible during the initial 10 minutes after process startup on fresh installs. An attacker can upload a crafted backup archive that overwrites the app.ini configuration file and SQLite database. By injecting arbitrary OS commands into the TestConfigCmd setting within app.ini, the attacker triggers command execution after the application restarts to apply the restored configuration. This results in remote code execution with the privileges of the nginx-ui process, typically root in Docker deployments. The issue is identified as CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) and carries a CVSS 4.0 score of 9.0, indicating critical severity. The vulnerability has been fixed in version 2.3.8.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands as the user running nginx-ui, which is often root in Docker deployments. This can lead to full system compromise, unauthorized access, and control over the affected system. The vulnerability affects fresh installations during the first 10 minutes after startup, exploiting a time window of unauthenticated access to a sensitive restore endpoint.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade nginx-ui to version 2.3.8 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched. Until upgrading, restrict network access to the nginx-ui service during startup to trusted users only, and avoid fresh installations in untrusted environments. Patch status is confirmed by the vendor's versioning information indicating the fix in 2.3.8.
CVE-2026-42238: CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') in 0xJacky nginx-ui
Description
CVE-2026-42238 is a critical code injection vulnerability in 0xJacky's nginx-ui versions prior to 2. 3. 8. The issue arises because the backup restore endpoint is unauthenticated for the first 10 minutes after startup on fresh installations, allowing remote attackers to upload malicious backup archives. By controlling the restored configuration file, attackers can inject arbitrary OS commands that execute with the privileges of the nginx-ui process, often root in Docker environments. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2. 3. 8.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability in nginx-ui (versions before 2.3.8) involves an unauthenticated backup restore API endpoint accessible during the initial 10 minutes after process startup on fresh installs. An attacker can upload a crafted backup archive that overwrites the app.ini configuration file and SQLite database. By injecting arbitrary OS commands into the TestConfigCmd setting within app.ini, the attacker triggers command execution after the application restarts to apply the restored configuration. This results in remote code execution with the privileges of the nginx-ui process, typically root in Docker deployments. The issue is identified as CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) and carries a CVSS 4.0 score of 9.0, indicating critical severity. The vulnerability has been fixed in version 2.3.8.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands as the user running nginx-ui, which is often root in Docker deployments. This can lead to full system compromise, unauthorized access, and control over the affected system. The vulnerability affects fresh installations during the first 10 minutes after startup, exploiting a time window of unauthenticated access to a sensitive restore endpoint.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade nginx-ui to version 2.3.8 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched. Until upgrading, restrict network access to the nginx-ui service during startup to trusted users only, and avoid fresh installations in untrusted environments. Patch status is confirmed by the vendor's versioning information indicating the fix in 2.3.8.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-04-25T05:37:12.118Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 69f90348cbff5d8610482e45
Added to database: 5/4/2026, 8:36:24 PM
Last enriched: 5/4/2026, 8:51:19 PM
Last updated: 5/4/2026, 9:38:06 PM
Views: 3
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