CVE-2026-49972 in laravel-mediable
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2026
Laravel-Mediable before 7.0.0 contains a file upload vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to achieve remote code execution by uploading a file with an embedded PHP extension disguised within a double extension such as shell.php.jpg. The PATHINFO_FILENAME extraction preserves the inner .php extension in the base name, and on misconfigured Apache or nginx servers that execute any filename containing .php as PHP, the stored file is interpreted as executable code while all MIME type, extension, and aggregate type validation checks pass due to the outer .jpg extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2026
This vulnerability exists within the Laravel-Mediable package prior to version 7.0.0 and represents a critical security flaw that enables unauthenticated remote code execution through improper file handling mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of file extensions during the upload process, specifically when dealing with files that contain double extensions where the inner extension is PHP. When an attacker uploads a file such as shell.php.jpg, the system processes this file through PATHINFO_FILENAME extraction which preserves the inner .php extension in the base name while the outer .jpg extension is used for validation purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on the interaction between the application's file processing logic and web server configuration. The system's MIME type, extension, and aggregate type validation checks all pass successfully because they inspect the outer file extension (.jpg) rather than examining the complete filename structure. This validation bypass occurs due to improper sanitization of the filename during the upload process, where the underlying PHP file extraction mechanism fails to strip or properly validate the embedded PHP extension. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it exploits misconfigured web server environments where any filename containing .php is executed as PHP code regardless of its file extension.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and can result in complete system compromise when exploited by unauthenticated attackers. An attacker can upload a malicious payload that, upon being processed by the application, gets stored on the server with an executable PHP extension preserved in the filename. When the web server processes this file, typically through directory traversal or direct access to the uploaded file location, it executes the PHP code embedded within the file. This creates a persistent backdoor that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or complete system takeover. The vulnerability specifically targets Apache or nginx servers with misconfigured PHP execution settings where .php extensions are interpreted regardless of the filename's outer extension.
The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-434 which addresses insecure file upload handling and specifically relates to improper validation of filenames containing embedded extensions. This flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input sanitization and inadequate file type verification mechanisms within the application's media handling capabilities. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1505.003 which covers server-side include attacks, where attackers leverage misconfigured servers to execute malicious code through file uploads. Additionally, this vulnerability contributes to the broader category of path traversal and file inclusion attacks that have been consistently exploited in web application security breaches.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive filename sanitization that strips or validates all embedded extensions regardless of their position within the filename structure. The recommended approach includes modifying the file processing logic to perform thorough validation of the entire filename, including the base name, and rejecting any files containing PHP or other executable extensions in their core filename components. Organizations should also ensure proper web server configuration where PHP execution is restricted to specific directories rather than being enabled globally for all files containing .php extensions. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Laravel-Mediable version 7.0.0 or later, which includes proper filename sanitization and validation mechanisms that address this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing strict file type restrictions, content validation checks, and regular security audits of file upload mechanisms will significantly reduce the risk of exploitation in environments where such vulnerabilities may still exist.