CVE-2026-48538 in Archiver
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
GFI Archiver before 15.13 contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in the default import settings configuration that allows authenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the configured folders parameter to /Archiver/ImportSettingsWizard.ashx. The injected payload is stored by ImportSettingsWizard.SaveAllConfigSettings() without output encoding and is executed in the browsers of users who subsequently view the Archive Assistant default import settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
This vulnerability exists within GFI Archiver version 15.13 and earlier, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that enables authenticated attackers to execute malicious code through the application's import settings configuration interface. The security weakness manifests specifically in the default import settings functionality where the configured folders parameter fails to properly sanitize user input before storage. When an attacker successfully injects malicious script code into this parameter via the /Archiver/ImportSettingsWizard.ashx endpoint, the payload becomes permanently stored within the application's configuration database through the ImportSettingsWizard.SaveAllConfigSettings() method.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the web application's backend processing logic. The SaveAllConfigSettings() method processes user-supplied folder names without implementing proper sanitization mechanisms, allowing potentially harmful script code to persist in the system's configuration storage. This flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of inadequate input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only authenticated access to the application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts with legitimate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that affects all users who subsequently access the Archive Assistant default import settings page. Any user who views these stored configuration settings will unknowingly execute the injected payload within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple administrators may regularly access these settings. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves social engineering through malicious links or embedded content, and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to GFI Archiver version 15.13 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed, implementing strict input validation on all user-supplied parameters within the import settings configuration, and conducting regular security audits of web application inputs. Network segmentation can help limit the attack surface by restricting access to administrative interfaces, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in import settings modifications. The fix should include proper output encoding of stored values when rendered in HTML contexts, implementing the principle of least privilege for administrative accounts, and establishing comprehensive logging of configuration changes to enable rapid incident response. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and highlights how seemingly benign configuration interfaces can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented.