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.
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Mon, 04 May 2026 21:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared |
0xjacky
0xjacky nginx-ui |
|
| Vendors & Products |
0xjacky
0xjacky nginx-ui |
Mon, 04 May 2026 20:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | 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. | |
| Title | Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Backup Restore in nginx-ui | |
| Weaknesses | CWE-94 | |
| References |
| |
| Metrics |
cvssV4_0
|
Projects
Sign in to view the affected projects.
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: GitHub_M
Published:
Updated: 2026-05-04T20:13:22.196Z
Reserved: 2026-04-25T05:37:12.118Z
Link: CVE-2026-42238
No data.
Status : Received
Published: 2026-05-04T21:16:32.707
Modified: 2026-05-04T21:16:32.707
Link: CVE-2026-42238
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-05-04T21:30:09Z
Weaknesses