critical CVSS 9.9 EPSS 0.81%

CVE-2026-25510·PHP vulnerability

CI4MS is a CodeIgniter 4-based CMS skeleton that delivers a production-ready, modular architecture with RBAC authorization and theme support. Prior to version 0.28.5.0, an authenticated user with file editor permissions can achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) by leveraging the file creation and save endpoints, an attacker can upload and execute arbitrary PHP code on the server. This issue has been patched in version 0.28.5.0.

Severity
critical
Software
PHP
Fixed in
0.28.5.0
Published

How likely is exploitation

FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.81% — higher than 53% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.

Read the two together. CVE-2026-25510 scores 9.9 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.81%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.

Affected versions

Until: 0.28.5.0

Fixed in: 0.28.5.0

How to fix this CVE

Update CI4MS to version 0.28.5.0 or later to patch a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the file editor functionality. This vulnerability allows authenticated users with file editing permissions to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code on your server. Apply the update immediately as this is a critical severity issue (CVSS 9.9).

sudo dnf update php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST /file/save|POST /file/create with Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded or multipart/form-data containing PHP code patterns (<?php|eval|system|exec|shell_exec|passthru) in file content or filename parameters

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

Add this rule to your WAF to block exploitation attempts while you schedule the patch. 

Block or rate-limit POST requests to CI4MS file editor endpoints (/file/save, /file/create) unless originating from trusted administrative IP ranges. Implement request body inspection to reject uploads containing PHP execution functions (eval, system, exec, passthru, base64_decode followed by eval). Require additional authentication headers or tokens for file operations.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Run `php -v` to check your current PHP version and verify the CI4MS installation path in your web root
  2. Check the CI4MS version by examining `composer.json` or the version file in your CI4MS installation directory (usually located in `/var/www/html/` or similar)
  3. Search web server logs for POST requests to `/file/save` or `/file/create` endpoints with suspicious payloads: `grep -E '(file/(save|create)|\.(php|phtml|php3|php4|php5))' /var/log/apache2/access.log`
  4. Verify the patch by checking the commit hash in your git history or comparing your installed CI4MS version number against 0.28.5.0 using `composer show ci4-cms-erp/ci4ms`

FAQ

What is CVE-2026-25510?

CVE-2026-25510 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in CI4MS (CodeIgniter 4 CMS) that allows authenticated users with file editor permissions to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code by exploiting the file creation and save functionality.

Is CVE-2026-25510 being actively exploited?

No, according to CISA KEV data, CVE-2026-25510 is not currently listed as actively exploited in the wild. However, no public exploit is publicly available, which does not guarantee safety—you should still patch immediately due to the critical severity rating.

What versions of CI4MS are affected by CVE-2026-25510?

All versions of CI4MS prior to and including version 0.28.4.x are vulnerable. The vulnerability was patched in version 0.28.5.0 and later.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-25510?

Run `composer show ci4-cms-erp/ci4ms` in your CI4MS installation directory to check the installed version. If it is below 0.28.5.0, your server is vulnerable. Additionally, verify that file editor permissions are assigned to any user accounts by checking the RBAC configuration in your CI4MS admin panel.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-25510?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If CI4MS or PHP is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-25510 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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