# CVE-2026-49049: Joomla Extension - joomshaper.com - Unauthenticated access to Helix3 template ajax handler

> Unauthenticated attackers can delete files, write JSON, and modify template parameters via an exposed ajax handler in the Helix3 Joomla extension.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 12 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xr7r-292v-jxg8

## What is CVE-2026-49049?

CVE-2026-49049 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in joomshaper.com Helix3 extension for Joomla, published on 29 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Helix3 plugin for Joomla exposes an ajax handler task, that allows unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files, write arbitrary JSON files and update template parameters.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-49049?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ollyo Helix3.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-49049?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-49049 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-49049 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-49049 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Read-only vulnerability scanner for CVE-2026-49049 — Helix3 Joomla plugin unauthenticated AJAX handler (github_poc): https://github.com/shinthink/CVE-2026-49049
-  CVE-2026-49049 - Unauthenticated File Deletion, Arbitrary Write & XSS Injection for Helix3 Joomla Extension (github_poc): https://github.com/frada321/asdsadsadasdasdsadsad
- https://github.com/Dr-D25/CVE-2026-49049 (github_poc): https://github.com/Dr-D25/CVE-2026-49049
- CVE-2026-49049 Helix3 (JoomShaper) Joomla Unauthenticated AJAX RCE Scanner (github_poc): https://github.com/ExDev994/CVE-2026-49049
- Mass Exploiter for CVE-2026-49049 (github_poc): https://github.com/6ickzone/Helix3-Mass-Exploiter
- Mass vulnerability scanner for CVE-2026-49049 – Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution in Joomla Helix3 plugin. Multi‑threaded, detects both executed and raw PHP payloads. (github_poc): https://github.com/Jenderal92/CVE-2026-49049

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-49049 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-49049 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in joomshaper.com Helix3 extension for Joomla, published on 29 Jun 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-2026-49049 exists.

Affected product: joomshaper.com Helix3 extension for Joomla. 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-2026-49049/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49049/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-49049
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-49049
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-49049

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49049/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.