Last updated: September 29, 2026 at 8:42 AM UTC
All 891 Vulnerability 357 Breach 144 Threat 383 Defense 7
Tag: rce (65 articles)Clear

Attackers exploit unauthenticated WordPress code execution flaw within hours of its disclosure

Threat actors began exploiting a critical WordPress flaw, CVE-2026-87902, rated 9.2, within hours of its public disclosure. The bug lets an unauthenticated attacker make get_page_template() include a chosen readable local .php file outside the active theme directories, which can lead to remote code execution when server and theme preconditions are met. Exploitation requires the active child or parent theme to contain a top-level directory whose name starts with page-, and a readable local .php target such as pearcmd.php. Previdian reported honeypot exploitation attempts from a New Jersey IP that include /usr/local/lib/php/pearcmd.php, write a file to /tmp, then pull a PHP upload script from GitHub to plant a web shell.

Check
Update WordPress to the patched release now, then check whether active themes contain page- prefixed directories and review web logs for pearcmd.php requests.
Affected
WordPress sites meeting the theme and server preconditions let an unauthenticated attacker chain local file inclusion into remote code execution, already seen in the wild.
Fix
Apply the WordPress patch, harden PHP to disable pearcmd.php inclusion, and block the observed exploit indicators at the web tier.

Researchers escape OpenAI Codex sandbox to run commands on developer machines

Accomplish AI researcher Oren Yomtov disclosed two OpenAI Codex sandbox escapes, the more serious dubbed Heapjack. Codex Desktop installs a node_repl component into the global config with no opt-in, and plain Codex CLI users inherit it. That process runs trusted OpenAI code and untrusted agent code in one Node instance sharing a heap, where a random authorization token sits in memory. Untrusted code snapshots the heap, recovers the token, and writes requests onto the pipe to an unsandboxed parent process, reaching any Unix socket including a Docker daemon. Opening a malicious repository and asking about the code yields unsandboxed execution with no prompt.

Check
Update Codex CLI and Desktop to the fixed builds, then review whether developers opened untrusted repositories in Codex during the exposure window.
Affected
Any Codex user, including CLI users who never enabled it, could be handed host command execution by opening someone else's repository and querying it.
Fix
Apply OpenAI's patches, isolate coding agents from Docker sockets and credentials, and treat opening untrusted repositories in an agent as code execution.

Attackers now exploiting a critical ColdFusion flaw Adobe patched last week

One of the critical ColdFusion vulnerabilities Adobe patched last week is now being exploited in the wild. The flaw, CVE-2026-48282, is a path-traversal issue rated 10.0 that lets an attacker run arbitrary code on a ColdFusion server, and it was among seven top-severity bugs Adobe fixed in ColdFusion 2025 and 2023. Adobe had flagged the update as high priority given ColdFusion's history as an attacker and ransomware target, and exploitation has followed quickly. Organizations that had not yet applied the update are now in an active-threat window, especially any ColdFusion servers reachable from the internet, which are the most exposed to opportunistic attacks.

Check
Confirm whether your ColdFusion 2025 and 2023 servers have last week's update applied, prioritize any that are internet-facing, and review logs and the filesystem for signs of exploitation or web shells.
Affected
ColdFusion 2025 and 2023 servers still missing last week's update (CVE-2026-48282); an attacker can use the path-traversal flaw to run code on the server, and exploitation is now underway.
Fix
Apply ColdFusion 2025 Update 10 and 2023 Update 21 immediately, restrict ColdFusion from direct internet exposure, and run a compromise assessment on any server that was unpatched while exploitation was occurring.

SharePoint remote code execution flaw added to CISA KEV after active exploitation

CISA has added a SharePoint remote code execution flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog after confirming active exploitation, months after Microsoft rated it less likely to be attacked. The bug (CVE-2026-45659, CVSS 8.8) comes from unsafe deserialization of untrusted data and lets an authenticated attacker with only Site Member permissions run code on a SharePoint server over the network, with low complexity and no user interaction. Microsoft patched it in May for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition, 2019, and Enterprise 2016. On-premises SharePoint is a repeated target because it holds sensitive data and is often internet-facing, and it has a long history of weaponized code execution flaws.

Check
Confirm the May 2026 SharePoint updates are applied to all on-premises servers, restrict internet exposure, and hunt for web shells, unexpected scheduled tasks, and unauthorized file changes on internet-facing SharePoint.
Affected
On-premises SharePoint Server Subscription Edition, 2019, and Enterprise 2016 missing the May 2026 patch (CVE-2026-45659); any authenticated user with Site Member permissions can run code remotely on the server.
Fix
Apply Microsoft's May 2026 SharePoint updates now, limit SharePoint to trusted networks or a VPN, tighten privileged access, and run a compromise assessment on internet-facing servers given confirmed exploitation.

Adobe patches seven critical code execution flaws in ColdFusion and Campaign Classic

Adobe has released patches for seven critical, top-rated code execution vulnerabilities in its ColdFusion web application platform and Campaign Classic marketing tool. Six of the flaws affect ColdFusion 2025 and 2023 and stem from unrestricted file uploads, improper input validation, and path traversal, each allowing arbitrary code execution; the seventh, in Campaign Classic, is an authorization flaw with the same impact on on-premises installations. All can be exploited in low-complexity attacks without user interaction. Adobe says it is not aware of any active exploitation but assigned its highest deployment priority, urging admins to patch quickly, since ColdFusion has repeatedly been targeted by attackers and ransomware crews.

Check
Identify ColdFusion 2025 and 2023 servers and on-premises Campaign Classic instances, confirm their update levels, and prioritize any that are internet-facing for immediate patching.
Affected
ColdFusion 2025 and 2023 before Update 10 and Update 21, and on-premises Adobe Campaign Classic before build 9397; unauthenticated or low-privilege attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution in low-complexity attacks.
Fix
Install ColdFusion 2025 Update 10, ColdFusion 2023 Update 21, and Campaign Classic build 9397 within days, as Adobe advises, and restrict these platforms from direct internet exposure where possible.

Unpatched Argo CD flaw lets attackers take over Kubernetes clusters

Researchers at Synacktiv disclosed an unpatched flaw in Argo CD, the popular GitOps tool for deploying to Kubernetes, that can lead to full cluster takeover. The problem is in repo-server, the component that turns Git repository files into Kubernetes manifests: its internal gRPC service requires no authentication, so anyone who can reach it on the cluster network can send a crafted request and run commands. Synacktiv reported it about eighteen months ago, but there is still no fix and no CVE, so it went public to warn users. With no patch, the practical defense is network isolation using Kubernetes network policies.

Check
Check whether Kubernetes network policies restrict access to Argo CD's repo-server and Redis, using kubectl get networkpolicy across namespaces; Helm installs leave these policies off by default, exposing the ports cluster-wide.
Affected
Argo CD deployments where the repo-server's unauthenticated internal service is reachable from the wider cluster network; any workload that can reach it can run commands and take over the cluster.
Fix
Enable Kubernetes network policies so only Argo CD components can reach the repo-server and Redis ports, isolate Argo CD on the cluster network, and watch for an official fix to apply.

Critical Oracle E-Business Suite flaw now exploited for unauthenticated takeover

Attackers have begun exploiting a critical flaw in Oracle E-Business Suite, the financial and operations platform used by large enterprises, threat intelligence firm Defused reports. The bug (CVE-2026-46817), rated 9.8, sits in the File Transmission component of Oracle Payments and lets an unauthenticated attacker with HTTP access take over the system through a low-complexity attack. Oracle patched it in its May 2026 update, but exploitation began over the weekend despite no public proof-of-concept existing, meaning attackers built their own. Observed payloads attempt to read sensitive system files. Shadowserver tracks more than 450 EBS instances exposed online, many in North America and Asia, with unknown numbers still unpatched.

Check
Identify internet-facing Oracle E-Business Suite instances, confirm whether the May 2026 Critical Patch Update is applied, and review logs for suspicious requests to the Payments component and unexpected system-file access.
Affected
Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.2.3 through 12.2.15 with the Payments component reachable over HTTP (CVE-2026-46817); unauthenticated attackers can fully compromise the system, and a private exploit is already in use.
Fix
Apply Oracle's May 2026 Critical Patch Update immediately, restrict EBS access to trusted networks, and run a compromise assessment if patching was delayed, since exploitation is underway without public exploit code.

Public exploit released for critical libssh2 flaw affecting curl, Git, and more

A public proof-of-concept has been released for a critical flaw in libssh2 (CVE-2026-55200), the client-side SSH library embedded in curl, Git, PHP, backup agents, firmware updaters, and countless appliances. A malicious or compromised SSH server can send a crafted packet that corrupts memory on the connecting client, with no credentials or user interaction needed, potentially leading to code execution. Rated 9.2, the bug affects all versions through 1.11.1. The fix was merged into the source on June 12, but no tagged release exists yet, so distributions are backporting it. The hardest part is that libssh2 is often statically bundled, so package updates miss those copies entirely.

Check
Inventory everything that links libssh2, including statically bundled copies inside curl, Git, PHP, backup tools, and appliances that package managers will not flag, especially anything connecting to untrusted SSH servers.
Affected
Any software using libssh2 through version 1.11.1 that connects to an untrusted or attacker-controlled SSH server (CVE-2026-55200); the malicious server, not the client, triggers the memory corruption without authentication.
Fix
Apply a build that includes the upstream fix, whether a distribution backport or patched source, watch vendor advisories for tagged releases, and restrict outbound SSH to untrusted servers until patched.

PTC Windchill flaw exploited for remote code execution on manufacturing systems

Attackers are actively exploiting a critical flaw in PTC Windchill and FlexPLM, product lifecycle management software widely used across automotive, aerospace, defense, and manufacturing to store designs, engineering data, and intellectual property. The bug (CVE-2026-12569) is an unsafe deserialization issue that lets an unauthenticated attacker run code remotely by sending a crafted request. PTC patched it in mid-June, but has since reported heightened activity, with attackers deploying JSP web shells for command execution and data theft. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, the first-ever PTC product to be listed, with a federal deadline of June 28. PTC has published indicators of compromise.

Check
Inventory PTC Windchill and FlexPLM instances and versions, restrict internet exposure of the login endpoint, and hunt for the JSP web shells and indicators of compromise PTC published.
Affected
Organizations running unpatched PTC Windchill or FlexPLM (CVE-2026-12569), especially internet-facing instances; manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, and defense risk remote code execution, intellectual-property theft, and supply-chain compromise.
Fix
Apply PTC's patches for your Windchill or FlexPLM version immediately, restrict the login endpoint to trusted networks, deploy the published IOCs, and check for web shells before assuming systems are clean.

Cisco Unified CM flaw now exploited to gain root on phone systems

A flaw in Cisco Unified Communications Manager, the system that runs enterprise phone and call infrastructure, is now being exploited in attacks. The bug (CVE-2026-20230) is a server-side request forgery that lets an unauthenticated attacker send a crafted HTTP request to write files onto the underlying system, which can then be used to escalate to root and fully take over the server. Cisco patched it on June 3 and rates it critical; public exploit code has been available since, and security firms now see active exploitation attempts. The flaw is only exploitable when the WebDialer service is enabled, which is not the default.

Check
Check whether your Cisco Unified CM or Session Management Edition deployments have the WebDialer service enabled and confirm the software version, then review system logs for unexpected file writes or webshells.
Affected
Cisco Unified CM and Unified CM SME with the WebDialer service enabled (CVE-2026-20230); version 14 before 14SU6 and version 15 before 15SU5, especially with management interfaces reachable by attackers.
Fix
Patch to Cisco Unified CM 14SU6 or apply the version 15 interim fix, or disable the WebDialer service if it is not needed, and restrict management interfaces to trusted networks.