CVE-2022-26982
Published: 05 April 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-26982 is a high-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Simplemachines Simple Machines Forum. Its CVSS base score is 7.2 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 6.6% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2022-26982 is a code injection vulnerability, tracked as CWE-94, that affects SimpleMachinesForum versions 2.1.1 and earlier. It stems from the ability of administrators to modify themes, which permits insertion of arbitrary PHP code that executes on the server. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.2 under the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
An authenticated administrator can exploit the flaw remotely to run arbitrary code, resulting in full control over the affected forum installation and the underlying server environment. The vendor maintains that this behavior is intentional because administrators are expected to be able to supply any PHP they choose.
Public proof-of-concept exploits demonstrating remote code execution have been published on PacketStorm and GitHub. The EPSS score has remained stable at a peak of 0.1049 with no material upward trajectory after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-31523
Vulnerability details
SimpleMachinesForum 2.1.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary code by inserting a vulnerable php code because the themes can be modified by an administrator. NOTE: the vendor's position is that administrators are intended to have the ability…
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to modify themes, and can thus choose any PHP code that they wish to have executed on the server.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.
Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.
Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.
Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.