Nginx UI is a web user interface for the Nginx web server. Prior to version 2.3.8, nginx-ui exposes a backup restore endpoint (POST /api/restore) that is completely unauthenticated during the first 10 minutes after process startup on any fresh installation. An unauthenticated remote attacker can upload a crafted backup archive that overwrites the application's configuration file (app.ini) and SQLite database. Because the attacker controls the restored app.ini, they can inject an arbitrary OS command into the TestConfigCmd setting. After the application automatically restarts to apply the restored config, a single follow-up request triggers that command as the user running nginx-ui — typically root in Docker deployments. This issue has been patched in version 2.3.8.
History

Mon, 04 May 2026 21:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared 0xjacky
0xjacky nginx-ui
Vendors & Products 0xjacky
0xjacky nginx-ui

Mon, 04 May 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Nginx UI is a web user interface for the Nginx web server. Prior to version 2.3.8, nginx-ui exposes a backup restore endpoint (POST /api/restore) that is completely unauthenticated during the first 10 minutes after process startup on any fresh installation. An unauthenticated remote attacker can upload a crafted backup archive that overwrites the application's configuration file (app.ini) and SQLite database. Because the attacker controls the restored app.ini, they can inject an arbitrary OS command into the TestConfigCmd setting. After the application automatically restarts to apply the restored config, a single follow-up request triggers that command as the user running nginx-ui — typically root in Docker deployments. This issue has been patched in version 2.3.8.
Title Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Backup Restore in nginx-ui
Weaknesses CWE-94
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 9, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-04T20:13:22.196Z

Reserved: 2026-04-25T05:37:12.118Z

Link: CVE-2026-42238

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-05-04T21:16:32.707

Modified: 2026-05-04T21:16:32.707

Link: CVE-2026-42238

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-05-04T21:30:09Z