---
id: CVE-2026-27760
title: OpenCATS PHP Code Injection via installer AJAX endpoint
summary: >-
  OpenCATS prior to commit 3002a29 contains a PHP code injection vulnerability
  in the installer AJAX endpoint that allows unauthenticated attackers to
  execute arbitrary code by injecting PHP statements into the
  databaseConnectivity action …
severity: high
cvss: 8.1
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-94
vendor: opencats
product: OpenCATS
affected:
  - OpenCATS <= 0.9.7.4
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-04-28T14:55:56.133961Z'
exploitAvailable: true
published: '2026-04-28'
updated: '2026-11-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-08T14:01:44.604Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-27760'
references:
  - url: 'https://chocapikk.com/posts/2026/opencats-installer-rce/'
  - url: 'https://github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/pull/706'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/commit/3002a29f4c3cada1aa2c4f3d4ae4e189906606b6
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/blob/46e4727/lib/CATSUtility.php#L142-L172
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/blob/46e4727/modules/install/ajax/ui.php#L130
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/opencats-php-code-injection-via-installer-ajax-endpoint
tags:
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.32975
epssPercentile: 0.98369
exploits:
  metasploit:
    - exploit/multi/http/opencats_installer_rce
  nuclei:
    - CVE-2026-27760
  checkedAt: '2026-11-08T14:51:57.350Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-11-08T14:51:22.465Z'
---

## Overview

OpenCATS prior to commit 3002a29 contains a PHP code injection vulnerability in the installer AJAX endpoint that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code by injecting PHP statements into the databaseConnectivity action parameter. Attackers can break out of the define() string context in config.php using a single quote and statement separator to inject malicious PHP code that persists and executes on every subsequent page load when the installation wizard remains incomplete.

## Affected

- `OpenCATS <= 0.9.7.4`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.