# CVE-2021-40189: File upload in n/a

> Attackers can upload malicious files via the theme function to execute arbitrary code on the server.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 Oct 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rqf2-v8fp-54vf

## What is CVE-2021-40189?

CVE-2021-40189 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 11 Oct 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

PHPFusion 9.03.110 is affected by a remote code execution vulnerability. The theme function will extract a file to "webroot/themes/{Theme Folder], where an attacker can access and execute arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-40189?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Php-Fusion Phpfusion.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-40189?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-40189 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-40189 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-40189 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2022-3152](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3152/): Unverified Password Change in phpfusion/phpfusion (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2020-23754](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-23754/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2023-2453](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2453/): Local file Inclusion (LFI) in Forum Infusion via Directory Traversal (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-37137](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-37137/): PHP-Fusion 9.03.50 - 'panels.php' Eval Injection (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2021-40188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40188/): File upload in n/a (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-40189 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-40189 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 11 Oct 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-40189 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-2021-40189/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40189/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-40189
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40189
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-40189

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40189/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.