Severity by source
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Reachable via authenticated HTTP API (AV:N/PR:L); unvalidated chmod escapes the app into OS-level root control, so scope changes (S:C) with full C/I/A impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (cisa-cg).
CVSS VectorVendor: cisa-cg
Lifecycle Timeline
6DescriptionCVE.org
FileGator accepts arbitrary Unix permission values via the '/chmoditems' API endpoint and passes the value directly to PHP's native 'chmod()' function through 'octdec()' conversion, with no validation. This allows an authenticated user with 'chmod' permission to upgrade their privileges to root.
AnalysisAI
Privilege escalation in FileGator (the open-source self-hosted PHP web file manager) lets an authenticated user who holds the 'chmod' permission set arbitrary Unix file modes via the '/chmoditems' API endpoint, ultimately elevating to root. The endpoint forwards attacker-supplied values straight to PHP's chmod() through octdec() with no validation or allow-listing, so a low-privileged operator can make sensitive binaries or files setuid/world-writable and gain full control of the host. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and the issue is not in CISA KEV; EPSS was not provided.
Technical ContextAI
FileGator is a standalone PHP application (single affected CPE cpe:2.3:a:filegator:filegator) that manages files on the server's local filesystem on behalf of authenticated users. The '/chmoditems' action is intended to let permitted users change file modes, but it converts the client-supplied string with octdec() and hands the raw integer to PHP's native chmod() without bounding it to a safe set. This is a textbook CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for a Critical Resource): because the application process can chmod files it owns or has write access to, an attacker can grant setuid/setgid or world-writable bits and pivot to root-level control of files the web stack touches.
RemediationAI
Upgrade to the patched FileGator release referenced in the vendor changelog - version 7.14.2 (2026-05-18) - and apply commit 4a44ed9a43f84505703dce669c68fb55270c3f2c (https://github.com/filegator/filegator/commit/4a44ed9a43f84505703dce669c68fb55270c3f2c). Until patched, revoke the 'chmod' permission from all non-administrative roles so ordinary users cannot reach the vulnerable code path (trade-off: users lose the ability to change file modes through the UI), and restrict network access to the FileGator interface to trusted administrators only via authentication proxy or IP allow-listing. As additional hardening, run the FileGator PHP process under a dedicated low-privilege, unprivileged account with no ownership of setuid-capable or system files so a successful chmod cannot escalate to root (trade-off: requires filesystem ownership review and may break existing workflows). Consult the CISA CSAF advisory va-26-202-03 for vendor guidance.
Path Traversal in GitHub repository filegator/filegator prior to 7.8.0. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerabili
Session Fixation in GitHub repository filegator/filegator prior to 7.8.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnera
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-46401
GHSA-9m9p-7p6h-xv99