CVE-2026-79920
CVE-2026-79920 is a critical-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-862.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.9)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (48th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-862
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Ajenti is a Linux & BSD modular server admin panel. Prior to version 2.2.16, any authenticated user can call /api/core/tasks/start to enqueue InstallPlugin, UnInstallPlugin, or UpgradeAll from plugins/plugins/tasks.py without plugin-management authorization. InstallPlugin and UnInstallPlugin construct a pip package specification from unvalidated name and version fields, and the task worker invokes pip while running as root. A low-privileged user can therefore select or manipulate a package installed with root privileges and can install, remove, or upgrade plugins without administrative permission, resulting in root code execution and full host compromise. This issue is fixed in version 2.2.16.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-79920?
- Ajenti is a Linux & BSD modular server admin panel. Prior to version 2.2.16, any authenticated user can call /api/core/tasks/start to enqueue InstallPlugin, UnInstallPlugin, or UpgradeAll from plugins/plugins/tasks.py without plugin-management authorization. InstallPlugin and UnInstallPlugin construct a pip package specification from unvalidated name and version fields, and the task worker invokes pip while running as root. A low-privileged user can therefore select or manipulate a package installed with root privileges and can install, remove, or upgrade plugins without administrative permission, resulting in root code execution and full host compromise. This issue is fixed in version 2.2.16.
- How severe is CVE-2026-79920?
- CVE-2026-79920 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.9, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2026-79920 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (48th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-79920?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- When was CVE-2026-79920 published?
- CVE-2026-79920 was published on 2026-09-21 and last updated on 2026-09-24.
References
- https://github.com/ajenti/ajenti/commit/3a8cbee32df4c5033796f19af4210011163a6f6e
- https://github.com/ajenti/ajenti/commit/f07f02e0cdeeb3e528c1d5af28e27fd11623c49c
- https://github.com/ajenti/ajenti/releases/tag/v2.2.16
- https://github.com/ajenti/ajenti/security/advisories/GHSA-j8xf-5fw2-f99q
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