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Xerte Online Toolkits CVE-2026-117607

| EUVDEUVD-2026-111542 HIGH
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434)
2026-10-28 VulnCheck GHSA-w4qr-gppq-v53c
8.6
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: VulnCheck
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Authenticate as system-permission user
  2. Delivery
    Upload crafted ZIP via import_language.php
  3. Exploit
    Drop malicious .inc PHP file
  4. Execution
    Request file via language parameter
  5. Impact
    Execute arbitrary PHP on server

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File type validation, storage isolation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Command and Control, Persistence

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires an authenticated account with Xerte 'system' permission (reflected as PR:H) and access to the language-pack import feature at import_language.php. The concrete prerequisite chain is: upload a crafted ZIP archive containing a .inc file, then issue a request referencing it through the 'language' parameter to trigger PHP execution via functions.php. The primary limiting factor is the high-privilege requirement - this is not reachable by anonymous or low-privilege users - so realistic risk is confined to environments with multiple or semi-trusted privileged operators, shared admin credentials, or where such an account can be compromised. No user interaction by a victim is required (UI:N).

Impact

This is a genuine but privilege-gated RCE. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N, VC:H/VI:H/VA:H, score 8.6) describes network-reachable, low-complexity code execution with full confidentiality, integrity and availability impact on the vulnerable system, but PR:H means the attacker must already hold a high-privilege account - the description confirms this as a user with 'system permission.' The vuln.today priority is 'this_week,' reported by VulnCheck, which signals meaningful but not emergency urgency. No EPSS score, no CISA KEV listing, and no confirmed working exploit code are present in the input, so there is no signal of active or widespread exploitation; the risk is driven by severity-of-outcome rather than ease-of-access. Net: a real priority to patch for anyone running Xerte with semi-trusted privileged users or shared admin access, but the PR:H barrier substantially limits mass or unauthenticated exploitation, so it is not a drop-everything emergency absent a KEV/EPSS signal. The CVSS network vector and the description are consistent (import occurs over the web app), so no contradiction to flag.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who holds (or has phished/escalated to) an account with Xerte 'system' permission logs into the web application and uses the language-pack import feature to upload a crafted ZIP containing a malicious .inc PHP file. They then request that file via the language parameter, causing the server to execute their PHP code. A VulnCheck advisory and the upstream GitHub issue describe the flaw, but the input does not confirm working public exploit code.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.7% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 28, 2026

Authenticated users holding the Xerte Online Toolkits 'system' permission can execute PHP on servers running versions through 3.15.5 by importing a crafted language-pack ZIP that contains a .inc file and then requesting that file through the language parameter. The upload path is import_language.php and execution is reached through functions.php, so a privileged attacker can turn a permitted language-import workflow into remote code execution. The high-privilege requirement confines realistic exposure to deployments with multiple trusted operators, shared administrative credentials, or a compromised system-level account; no public exploit identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

No vendor-released patch or fixed version is identified in the supplied references; the links point to the vendor issue and source-code locations rather than a tagged fixed release, so track https://github.com/thexerteproject/xerteonlinetoolkits/issues/1557 and https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/xerte-online-toolkits-through-3.15.5-rce-via-language-pack-import for a fixed release and upgrade once a version later than 3.15.5 is confirmed. Until then, reduce the documented prerequisite exposure by limiting the Xerte 'system' permission and access to import_language.php to fully trusted operators, removing unnecessary system-level accounts, and eliminating shared administrative credentials; these controls trade off administrative convenience but directly narrow the PR:H path. If the language-import feature is not needed, disable it, and consider blocking PHP execution in the language-pack storage location at the web server as a compensating control, with the side effect that legitimate language functionality may break.

Affected VersionsENISA

xerteonlinetoolkits 0 ≤3.15.5

Affected Packages

euvd xerteonlinetoolkits no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Xerte Online Toolkits is a PHP web application for creating and delivering e-learning content, and the supplied CPE is cpe:2.3:a:thexerteproject:xerteonlinetoolkits:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* with the description bounding affected releases through 3.15.5. The weakness class is CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type): import_language.php handles a ZIP language pack and its .inc member, while functions.php line 419 is the code location tied to loading language content. The references identify import_language.php line 211 and functions.php line 419 as the relevant implementation points. Because the imported .inc file can contain PHP in this path, a request that references the uploaded file through the language parameter can cause the server to interpret it as PHP. The provided CVSS 4.0 vector describes a network-reachable issue with low attack complexity, high privileges required (PR:H), no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact; the trigger described in the sources requires the upload-then-request sequence and is not reachable anonymously.

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Severity by source

Vendor (VulnCheck) PRIMARY 8.6 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 7.2 HIGH

Network-reachable import feature (AV:N, AC:L) but requires a high-privilege 'system' account (PR:H); successful upload yields full server code execution, so C:H/I:H/A:H.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (VulnCheck).

CVSS VectorVendor: VulnCheck

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

Xerte Online Toolkits through 3.15.5 contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows authenticated users with system permission to run PHP by importing a crafted language pack. Attackers can upload a ZIP via import_language.php containing a .inc file, then request it through the language parameter to execute code on the server.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-117607 is a high-severity vulnerability in Xerte Online Toolkits (through v3.15.5) that enables authenticated users with the 'system' permission to achieve remote code execution by importing a malicious language pack. This effectively converts a legitimate administrative capability into a server takeover primitive. Leadership should be concerned because these 'system' accounts often represent trusted administrators with broad access; any compromise or insider misuse could lead to full server compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption across the learning platform.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: (1) strictly limit the 'system' permission to a minimal set of trusted administrators; (2) disable or restrict access to the language-import functionality (e.g., via web server configuration or file removal) if not operationally required; (3) enforce multi-factor authentication and least privilege for all administrative accounts; (4) deploy file integrity monitoring and anomaly detection for unexpected PHP file creation in language directories; (5) consider a web application firewall rule to block requests to import_language.php from untrusted sources.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.7%
Top 48% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
niche open-source e-learning authoring tool, education-sector footprint
Social Media
1
Sightings
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.7%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

44
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +43
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Malicious file upload attacks exploit insufficient validation when web applications accept user-provided files.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

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