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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- High
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.2
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-54453- CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-74, CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-03
EUVDEUVD-2026-112515
7.2
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.
- Record
EUVD-2026-112515- CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
7.2
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-54453- CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-74, CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-03
OSV
7.2
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.
- Record
CVE-2026-54453- CVSS 3.1
- 7.2 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-74, CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-07
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | CVE List, EUVD, NVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-54453 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.2) in Opencats, published October 28, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.44%, the 38th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/security/advisories/GHSA-627w-743r-4cg2
github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/pull/802
github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/commit/e422abf3b75d467bdee65277f56e41dfba928fc8
github.com/opencats/OpenCATS/tree/v0.10.0
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/54xxx/CVE-2026-54453.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54453