critical CVSS 9.8 Actively exploited

CVE-2026-48907·PHP vulnerability

A vulnerability in the JCE editor extension for Joomla allows the creation of new editor profiles for unauthenticated users, ultimately resulting in PHP code upload and execution.

Severity
critical
Software
PHP
Fixed in
2.9.99.5
Published
2026-06-05

Affected versions

Until: 2.9.99.5

Fixed in: 2.9.99.5

How to fix this CVE

Immediately update the JCE editor extension to version 2.9.99.5 or later, which closes an authentication bypass that permits unauthorized profile creation and arbitrary PHP code execution. This critical vulnerability is currently being actively exploited in the wild. If you are running an older version of the extension, apply the security patch without delay and verify the update in your Joomla admin panel.

sudo dnf update php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST /administrator/index.php?option=com_jce&task=profile.*profile.*name=.*php

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 restrict unauthenticated POST requests to /administrator/index.php?option=com_jce&task=profile* endpoints. Implement IP whitelisting for administrator access and enforce HTTP authentication at the web server level for all /administrator/* paths.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Step 1: Check the JCE extension version by navigating to Joomla Admin > Extensions > Manage > Search for 'JCE' and note the current version number.
  2. Step 2: Verify if JCE is enabled in your Joomla installation by checking if editor profile configuration files exist in /administrator/components/com_jce/
  3. Step 3: Search access logs for POST requests to /administrator/index.php?option=com_jce&task=profile containing suspicious parameters indicative of unauthorized profile creation attempts.
  4. Step 4: After updating to version 2.9.99.5 or later, confirm the fix by checking the extension version again in Joomla Admin and verifying that the version string matches 2.9.99.5 or higher.

Indicators of compromise

  • POST requests to /administrator/index.php?option=com_jce&task=profile with form data containing '.php' or code execution patterns
  • JCE profile configuration files with suspicious PHP code in /components/com_jce/extensions/profiles/
  • Newly created editor profiles in the Joomla database (jos_jce_profiles table) with modification timestamps correlating to suspected breach window

FAQ

What is CVE-2026-48907?

CVE-2026-48907 is a critical authentication bypass flaw in the JCE (Joomla Content Editor) extension that allows unauthenticated attackers to create malicious editor profiles and upload arbitrary PHP code, leading to remote code execution on the server.

Is CVE-2026-48907 being actively exploited?

Yes, this vulnerability is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and is currently being actively exploited in real-world attacks against Joomla installations.

What versions of the JCE extension are affected by CVE-2026-48907?

All versions of JCE up to and including 2.9.99.4 are vulnerable; version 2.9.99.5 and later contain the security fix.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-48907?

Log into your Joomla administration panel, navigate to Extensions > Manage, and search for 'JCE'. If the listed version is below 2.9.99.5, your installation is vulnerable.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-48907?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If JCE or PHP is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-48907 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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