# CVE-2026-27760: OpenCATS PHP Code Injection via installer AJAX endpoint

> Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code via the installer AJAX endpoint if the installation wizard is incomplete.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.2 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 14 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h957-4jfh-qc3p

## What is CVE-2026-27760?

CVE-2026-27760 is a critical code injection vulnerability in OpenCATS, published on 28 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

OpenCATS prior to commit 3002a29 contains a PHP code injection vulnerability in the installer AJAX endpoint that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code by injecting PHP statements into the databaseConnectivity action parameter. Attackers can break out of the define() string context in config.php using a single quote and statement separator to inject malicious PHP code that persists and executes on every subsequent page load when the installation wizard remains incomplete.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-27760?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-27760?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-27760 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-27760 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-27760 exists.

Public exploit code:

- OpenCATS Installer PHP Code Injection (metasploit)
- OpenCATS - Command Injection (nuclei): http/cves/2026/CVE-2026-27760.yaml

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-27760 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-27760 is a critical code injection vulnerability in OpenCATS, published on 28 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-27760 exists.

Affected product: OpenCATS. 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-2026-27760/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27760/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-27760
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27760
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-27760

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27760/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.