CVE-2026-54540
Received Received - Intake

Authenticated Terminal Command Whitelist Bypass in Pheditor

Publication date: 2026-07-27

Last updated on: 2026-07-27

Assigner: GitHub, Inc.

Description
Pheditor is a single-file editor and file manager written in PHP. Prior to version 2.0.5, there is an authenticated terminal command whitelist bypass. The terminal feature checks whether the submitted command starts with one of the configured TERMINAL_COMMANDS values, then passes the full command string to shell_exec(). Shell command substitution such as $() is not blocked, so an authenticated user with the terminal permission can bypass a restricted command allowlist and execute arbitrary shell commands as the web server user. This issue has been patched in version 2.0.5.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-07-27
Last Modified
2026-07-27
Generated
2026-07-27
AI Q&A
2026-07-27
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-54540
EUVD
EUVD-2026-49385

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 2 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
pheditor pheditor 2.0.5
pheditor pheditor to 2.0.5 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-78 The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-54540 is an authenticated terminal command whitelist bypass in Pheditor versions before 2.0.5. The terminal feature checks if a command starts with an allowed value but fails to block shell command substitution like $(). This allows attackers to bypass restrictions and execute arbitrary shell commands as the web server user.

Detection Guidance

Check if Pheditor version 2.0.4 or earlier is installed by running: grep -r 'Pheditor' /path/to/installation or checking version via the web interface. Monitor for unusual terminal commands containing $() or ${} in logs. Test for the vulnerability by attempting to execute commands like ls$(whoami) in the terminal feature.

Impact Analysis

An attacker with terminal permissions could execute unauthorized commands on the server, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration. This could affect data integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, violating GDPR's data protection requirements and HIPAA's security rules for protected health information. Non-compliance may result in legal penalties and reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies

Upgrade Pheditor to version 2.0.5 or later immediately. Disable the terminal feature if not required. Restrict authenticated user permissions to minimize exposure. Review and audit terminal command logs for suspicious activity. Consider implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to the terminal interface.

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