# CVE-2026-42853: @apostrophecms/cli: Command Injection in apos create via Unsanitized Password Input

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the host system via unsanitized password input in the ApostropheCMS CLI create command.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 13 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hcwq-x9fw-8cfq

## What is CVE-2026-42853?

CVE-2026-42853 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in @apostrophecms/cli, published on 12 Jun 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

ApostropheCMS is an open-source Node.js content management system. Versions of the @apostrophecms/cli package up to and including 3.6.0 contain a command injection vulnerability in the apos create command. User-supplied input from the password prompt is embedded directly into a shell command without proper sanitization or escaping. This allows execution of arbitrary commands on the host system. As of time of publication, no known patched versions are available.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-42853?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including @apostrophecms/cli.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `@apostrophecms/cli` | npm | All versions to 3.6.0 | None |
| `@apostrophecms/cli` | npm | All versions to 3.6.0 | None |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-42853?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-42853 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-42853 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-42853 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-42853 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-42853 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in @apostrophecms/cli, published on 12 Jun 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-42853 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- @apostrophecms/cli (npm): affected all versions up to 3.6.0; no fix listed
- @apostrophecms/cli (npm): affected all versions up to 3.6.0; no fix listed

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-2026-42853/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-42853/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42853
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42853
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42853

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-42853/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.