CVE-2026-40261

Published: Apr 15, 2026 Last Modified: Apr 15, 2026
ExploitDB:
Other exploit source:
Google Dorks:
HIGH 8,8
Source: [email protected]
Attack Vector: network
Attack Complexity: low
Privileges Required: none
User Interaction: required
Scope: unchanged
Confidentiality: high
Integrity: high
Availability: high

Description

AI Translation Available

Composer is a dependency manager for PHP. Versions 1.0 through 2.2.26 and 2.3 through 2.9.5 contain a command injection vulnerability in the Perforce::syncCodeBase() method, which appends the $sourceReference parameter to a shell command without proper escaping, and additionally in the Perforce::generateP4Command() method as in GHSA-wg36-wvj6-r67p / CVE-2026-40176, which interpolates user-supplied Perforce connection parameters (port, user, client) from the source url field without proper escaping. An attacker can inject arbitrary commands through crafted source reference or source url values containing shell metacharacters, even if Perforce is not installed. Unlike CVE-2026-40176, the source reference and url are provided as part of package metadata, meaning any compromised or malicious Composer repository can serve package metadata declaring perforce as a source type with malicious values. This vulnerability is exploitable when installing or updating dependencies from source, including the default behavior when installing dev-prefixed versions. This issue has been fixed in Composer 2.2.27 (2.2 LTS) and 2.9.6 (mainline). If developers are unable to immediately update, they can avoid installing dependencies from source by using --prefer-dist or the preferred-install: dist config setting, and only use trusted Composer repositories as a workaround.

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System)

Trend Analysis

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System)

Prevede la probabilità di sfruttamento basata su intelligence sulle minacce e sulle caratteristiche della vulnerabilità.

EPSS Score
0,0004
Percentile
0,1th
Updated

Single Data Point

Only one EPSS measurement is available for this CVE. Trend analysis requires multiple data points over time.

20

Improper Input Validation

Stable
Abstraction: Class Structure: Simple
Common Consequences
Security Scopes Affected:
Availability Confidentiality Integrity
Potential Impacts:
Dos: Crash, Exit, Or Restart Dos: Resource Consumption (Cpu) Dos: Resource Consumption (Memory) Read Memory Read Files Or Directories Modify Memory Execute Unauthorized Code Or Commands
Applicable Platforms
All platforms may be affected
Likelihood of Exploit: High
View CWE Details
78

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

Stable
Abstraction: Base Structure: Simple
Common Consequences
Security Scopes Affected:
Confidentiality Integrity Availability Non-Repudiation
Potential Impacts:
Execute Unauthorized Code Or Commands Dos: Crash, Exit, Or Restart Read Files Or Directories Modify Files Or Directories Read Application Data Modify Application Data Hide Activities
Applicable Platforms
Technologies: AI/ML, Not Technology-Specific, Web Server
Likelihood of Exploit: High
View CWE Details
https://github.com/composer/composer/releases/tag/2.9.6
https://github.com/composer/composer/releases/tag/2.9.6
https://github.com/composer/composer/security/advisories/GH…
https://github.com/composer/composer/security/advisories/GHSA-gqw4-4w2p-838q