0xJacky nginx-ui up to 2.3.7 Backup /api/restore code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in 0xJacky nginx-ui up to 2.3.7. It has been classified as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /api/restore of the component Backup Handler. Performing a manipulation results in code injection. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-42238. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in 0xJacky nginx-ui up to 2.3.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown code block of the file /api/restore of the component Backup Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Nginx UI is a web user interface for the Nginx web server. Prior to version 2.3.8, nginx-ui exposes a backup restore endpoint (POST /api/restore) that is completely unauthenticated during the first 10 minutes after process startup on any fresh installation. An unauthenticated remote attacker can upload a crafted backup archive that overwrites the application's configuration file (app.ini) and SQLite database. Because the attacker controls the restored app.ini, they can inject an arbitrary OS command into the TestConfigCmd setting. After the application automatically restarts to apply the restored config, a single follow-up request triggers that command as the user running nginx-ui — typically root in Docker deployments. This issue has been patched in version 2.3.8.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-42238 since 04/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1059 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 2.3.8 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-27141). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Web Server

Vendor

• 0xJacky

Name

• nginx-ui

Version

• 2.3.0
• 2.3.1
• 2.3.2
• 2.3.3
• 2.3.4
• 2.3.5
• 2.3.6
• 2.3.7

Website

• Product: https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/

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Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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