CVE-2026-62009 in Filmax Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2026
Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection in Filmax <= 1.1.11 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unauthenticated PHP object injection flaw within Filmax versions prior to or equal to 1.1.11 represents a critical security deficiency that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target server without requiring valid credentials. This type of vulnerability stems from the improper handling of user-supplied input during the deserialization process, where data is converted back into PHP objects. In many modern web applications, serialization is used for caching sessions, storing configuration states, or passing complex data structures between different parts of an application or to external services. When these serialized strings are derived directly from untrusted sources such as HTTP request parameters, cookies, or POST bodies without adequate validation or sanitization, they become a prime vector for exploitation. The attacker can craft a maliciously formatted serialized string that contains not only the intended data but also embedded instructions designed to trigger specific methods within PHP classes present in the application's environment.
The technical mechanism behind this flaw relies on the behavior of PHP’s unserialize function when it encounters objects with magic methods such as __wakeup, __destruct, or __toString. If an attacker can control the class name and properties passed during deserialization, they may be able to instantiate classes that have side effects in their destructors or other lifecycle methods. This is particularly dangerous if those classes interact with sensitive system resources, file systems, databases, or network services. For instance, a crafted payload might invoke a method that writes files to the web root, executes shell commands via functions like exec or system, or performs SQL queries through database abstraction layers. The absence of authentication means this attack surface is wide open, allowing any anonymous user on the internet to attempt exploitation without needing to bypass login mechanisms or steal session tokens first.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation can lead to a complete compromise of the underlying server infrastructure. Attackers may achieve remote code execution, which often serves as the initial foothold for more advanced attacks such as lateral movement within the network, data exfiltration, or deployment of ransomware and cryptominers. The impact extends beyond immediate system control; it also compromises the integrity and confidentiality of any data processed by Filmax. Since web applications frequently handle user personal information, financial records, or proprietary business logic, a breach facilitated by this vulnerability can result in significant regulatory penalties under frameworks like GDPR or HIPAA, alongside severe reputational damage to the organization hosting the application. The ease of exploitation for unauthenticated vulnerabilities makes them high-priority targets for automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers alike.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required to update Filmax to version 1.1.12 or later where the vulnerability has been patched by implementing stricter input validation and avoiding direct deserialization of user-controlled data. If updating is not immediately feasible, developers should implement a whitelist approach for allowed classes during deserialization using PHP’s unserialize function's second parameter, which restricts instantiation to specific safe classes only. Additionally, employing strict type checking on all incoming parameters before they are processed by the application logic can prevent malformed serialized strings from reaching vulnerable code paths. It is also advisable to disable dangerous functions in php.ini if possible and ensure that error reporting does not leak stack traces or internal class structures to external users, as this information aids attackers in crafting effective payloads for polymorphic deserialization attacks.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes Deserialization of Untrusted Data, a category of flaws where the application fails to validate data before converting it into an object structure. Furthermore, from a tactical standpoint, exploitation techniques associated with this flaw map to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically when payloads are used to execute system commands via PHP functions. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize remediation efforts based on industry-standard taxonomies that correlate technical flaws with real-world attack behaviors. Regular code audits focusing on serialization practices and the use of secure coding libraries can further reduce the likelihood of similar vulnerabilities emerging in future development cycles, ensuring a more resilient application architecture against evolving threat landscapes.