CVE-2026-55579 in Pheditor
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2026
Pheditor is a single-file editor and file manager written in PHP. From version 2.0.1 to before version 2.0.6, Pheditor ships with a hardcoded default password admin (SHA-512 hash stored at pheditor.php:11). There is no mechanism to force a password change on first login. Any deployment using the default credentials grants an attacker full access to the file editor, file upload, and terminal features, enabling arbitrary file read/write and remote code execution. This issue has been patched in version 2.0.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2026
The pheditor software presents a critical security vulnerability through its implementation of hardcoded administrative credentials that persist across multiple versions. This flaw exists within the application's authentication mechanism where a default password of 'admin' is embedded with a SHA-512 hash directly in the source code at line 11 of pheditor.php. The vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in secure credential management practices and directly violates security best practices outlined in owasp top ten and nist cybersecurity framework guidelines. Organizations deploying this software without immediate password modification face an immediate and severe risk exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of any forced password change mechanism upon initial login, creating a persistent backdoor that remains accessible to all users who have not actively modified the default credentials. This design flaw allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical system functionalities including file editing capabilities, file upload operations, and terminal execution features. The combination of these permissions creates a complete compromise scenario where an attacker can perform arbitrary read/write operations on the filesystem, upload malicious payloads, and execute commands remotely. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) and CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) classifications within the common weakness enumeration framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers leveraging these default credentials can manipulate files, install malware, escalate privileges, and establish persistent access points within the compromised environment. The terminal access feature particularly amplifies the threat level as it enables direct command execution, allowing attackers to bypass application-level controls and potentially gain deeper system access. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) when considering how attackers might initially obtain access before exploiting this weakness.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the patched version 2.0.6 which addresses the hardcoded credential issue through proper authentication mechanisms. Organizations should implement mandatory password change policies upon first login, enforce strong password requirements, and conduct regular security audits to identify similar hardcoded credentials in other software components. The remediation process must include comprehensive credential rotation for all existing deployments, implementation of secure configuration management practices, and establishment of monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, system administrators should review all default accounts and credentials within their environments, as this vulnerability type commonly occurs in legacy applications where security considerations were not adequately prioritized during development phases.
The incident highlights critical gaps in software security lifecycle management where authentication mechanisms are not properly configured for production deployment scenarios. This vulnerability demonstrates how simple oversight in credential management can result in complete system compromise without requiring sophisticated attack techniques or exploiting additional vulnerabilities within the application stack. The patched version addresses these concerns through proper implementation of user account management and authentication controls that prevent the use of default credentials, thereby aligning with security standards established by iso 27001 and other international cybersecurity frameworks that emphasize secure configuration and access control principles.