CVE-2026-54453 — OpenCATS: Authenticated Remote Code Execution via SettingsUI (manageProfessional)
OpenCATS is an open-source applicant tracking system and recruitment CRM for staffing agencies and hiring teams. Prior to version 0.10.0, the Professional License configuration feature in `SettingsUI` (`manageProfessional`) accepts administrator-controlled license key input that is reconstructed into a PHP `define()` statement in `config.php` without safe escaping. Because the application includes `config.php`, crafted input can alter the file's PHP syntax and cause persistent arbitrary PHP execution with the web server process privileges. An authenticated administrator must have Settings module access and permission to update Professional License configuration, and `config.php` must be writable for this write-based path. Successful exploitation can read, modify or delete application data, expose candidate, contact, company, job order and user account information, alter the installation or configuration, and provide a foothold for further attacks. Unauthenticated exploitation and exploitation without Settings access are not established. This issue is fixed in version 0.10.0.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (OpenCATS OpenCATS).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (injection), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.2 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 1.2 | 5.9 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.2 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: security-advisories@github.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Look for parameters with command/query metacharacters and unexpected child processes of the service.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · opencats/opencats
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 7.2
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× References added · Oct 28, 2026 – Oct 28, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 28, 2026 – Oct 28, 2026
References
4 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-54455 OpenCATS: Authenticated SQL injection in activity DataGrid date filters 1d
- High CVE-2026-115513 OpenCATS before 0.12.0 Stored XSS via MRU Navigation Panel 7d
- Medium CVE-2026-113349 OpenCATS before 0.10.0 Missing Authorization in Calendar editEvent/deleteEvent 9d
- Medium CVE-2026-112783 OpenCATS before 0.10.0 Missing Authorization via Activity AJAX Endpoints 9d
- Medium CVE-2026-112784 OpenCATS before 0.10.0 Missing Authorization via ajax/testEmailSettings.php 9d
- Medium CVE-2026-112785 OpenCATS before 0.10.0 Missing Authorization in Saved-List AJAX Endpoints 9d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-54453 is "OpenCATS: Authenticated Remote Code Execution via SettingsUI (manageProfessional)", rated High. It affects OpenCATS (OpenCATS); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 7.2 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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