# CVE-2018-18249: Code injection in n/a

> Attackers can inject PHP ini-file directives via environment variables in Icinga Web 2, potentially leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-18249, GHSA-h88r-wm6r-9ghp, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-18249

## What is CVE-2018-18249?

CVE-2018-18249 is a critical code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Dec 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Icinga Web 2 before 2.6.2 allows injection of PHP ini-file directives via vectors involving environment variables as the channel to send information to the attacker, such as a name=${PATH}_${APACHE_RUN_DIR}_${APACHE_RUN_USER} parameter to /icingaweb2/navigation/add or /icingaweb2/dashboard/new-dashlet.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-18249?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Icinga Icinga Web 2.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-18249?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-18249 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-18249 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2022-24715](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24715/): Arbitrary code execution for authenticated users in Icinga Web 2 (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2025-27404](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27404/): Icinga Web 2 DOM-based XSS vulnerability (high 7.7)
- [CVE-2025-27405](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27405/): Icinga Web 2 has XSS in embedded content (high 7.7)
- [CVE-2022-24716](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24716/): Path traversal in Icinga Web 2 (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2018-18250](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18250/): Other in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-18249 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-18249 is a critical code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Dec 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-18249 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18249/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18249/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-18249
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-18249
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-18249

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18249/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.