Affected versions: ≥ 6.0.0 and < 6.1.3
Full advisory: our disclosure post
CVE-2026-57828CriticalCVSS 9.0CVE published 11 July 2026Added to mySites.guru 10 July 2026
Phoca Download (com_phocadownload) below 6.1.3 - Authenticated Arbitrary File Upload (RCE)
When Phoca Download's non-default user-upload feature is enabled, the front-end User Control Panel upload path ignores the admin's configured file-type allow-list (File::upload with allow_unsafe=true), so any registered member can upload a .php web shell into the web-served /phocadownload/userupload/ directory and execute it: authenticated remote code execution. CVE-2026-57828 (Joomla CNA, CVSS 4.0 9.0 Critical). Fixed in 6.1.3 (10 Jul 2026), which drops allow_unsafe on both File::upload() calls and replaces the front-end allow-list gate ($frontEnd == 1) with (int)$frontEnd > 0. Update to 6.1.3 or later; if you cannot, switch off user uploads (enable_user_cp). This rule covers the 6.x branch only. Phoca never backported the fix to the 3.x, 4.x or 5.x branches, which are tracked as separate advisories.
Is my site affected?
CVE-2026-57828 is checked by 4 rules. Find the extension and release line your site runs:
| Extension | Affected versions | Fixed in | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoca Download | from 6.0.0 up to but not including 6.1.3 | 6.1.3 | Update Phoca Download to 6.1.3 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches. |
| Phoca Download | before 4.0.0 | 4.0.0 | Update Phoca Download to 4.0.0 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches. |
| Phoca Download | from 4.0.0 up to but not including 5.0.0 | 5.0.0 | Update Phoca Download to 5.0.0 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches. |
| Phoca Download | from 5.0.0 up to but not including 6.0.0 | 6.0.0 | Update Phoca Download to 6.0.0 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches. |
How CVE-2026-57828 is scored
The base metrics as Joomla CNA published them, and what each one means for a site running an affected version. Threat and environmental metrics are left out: they describe a moment or a particular install rather than the flaw.
9.0 Critical
CVSS 4.0, scored by Joomla CNACVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:HHow it is reached
- AV:N Attack vector
- Network. Reachable across the internet
- AC:L Attack complexity
- Low. Nothing to work around, it just works
- AT:P Attack requirements
- Present. Needs a particular deployment or race to line up
- PR:L Privileges required
- Low. Any logged-in account will do
- UI:N User interaction
- None. Nobody has to be tricked into anything
What it does to the site
- VC:H Confidentiality
- High. Everything the site holds can be read
- VI:H Integrity
- High. Data and files can be altered at will
- VA:H Availability
- High. The site can be taken down
What it does beyond the site
- SC:H Confidentiality
- High. Data on other systems can be read
- SI:H Integrity
- High. Other systems can be altered
- SA:H Availability
- High. Other systems can be taken down
Timeline
- 10 July 2026mySites.guru check added for Phoca Download (from 6.0.0 up to but not including 6.1.3)
- 10 July 2026mySites.guru check added for Phoca Download (before 4.0.0)
- 10 July 2026mySites.guru check added for Phoca Download (from 4.0.0 up to but not including 5.0.0)
- 10 July 2026mySites.guru check added for Phoca Download (from 5.0.0 up to but not including 6.0.0)
- 10 July 2026We published: Phoca Download 6.1.3 Fixes an Authenticated Upload RCE
- 11 July 2026CVE-2026-57828 record published by its CNA
Rule details
Phoca Download - Phoca Download (com_phocadownload) 3.x and earlier - Authenticated Arbitrary File Upload (RCE), no fixed release for Joomla 3
When Phoca Download's non-default user-upload feature is enabled, the front-end User Control Panel upload path ignores the admin's configured file-type allow-list (File::upload with allow_unsafe=true), so any registered member can upload a .php web shell into the web-served /phocadownload/userupload/ directory and execute it: authenticated remote code execution. CVE-2026-57828 (Joomla CNA, CVSS 4.0 9.0 Critical). Phoca fixed this on the 6.x branch only, in 6.1.3 (10 Jul 2026). The Joomla 3 line stops at 3.2.3 (8 Mar 2021) and still holds the vulnerable code: both File::upload() calls pass allow_unsafe=true and the front-end gate is still the pre-fix $frontEnd == 1 test. Verified on 27 Aug 2026 by diffing the released com_phocadownload zips. Joomla's update stream offers a Joomla 3 site only the 3.x line, so no update shown in Joomla Admin will ever clear this. Switch off user uploads (enable_user_cp), or move the site to a Joomla version that can run the patched 6.x build.
Affected versions: < 4.0.0
Full advisory: our disclosure post
Phoca Download - Phoca Download (com_phocadownload) 4.x - Authenticated Arbitrary File Upload (RCE), no fixed 4.x release
When Phoca Download's non-default user-upload feature is enabled, the front-end User Control Panel upload path ignores the admin's configured file-type allow-list (File::upload with allow_unsafe=true), so any registered member can upload a .php web shell into the web-served /phocadownload/userupload/ directory and execute it: authenticated remote code execution. CVE-2026-57828 (Joomla CNA, CVSS 4.0 9.0 Critical). Phoca fixed this on the 6.x branch only, in 6.1.3 (10 Jul 2026). The Joomla 4 line stops at 4.0.9 (28 Oct 2023) and still holds the vulnerable code: both File::upload() calls pass allow_unsafe=true and the front-end gate is still the pre-fix $frontEnd == 1 test. Verified on 27 Aug 2026 by diffing the released com_phocadownload zips. Joomla's update stream offers a Joomla 4 site only the 4.x line, so no update shown in Joomla Admin will ever clear this. Switch off user uploads (enable_user_cp), or move the site to a Joomla version that can run the patched 6.x build.
Affected versions: ≥ 4.0.0 and < 5.0.0
Full advisory: our disclosure post
Phoca Download - Phoca Download (com_phocadownload) 5.x - Authenticated Arbitrary File Upload (RCE), no fixed 5.x release
When Phoca Download's non-default user-upload feature is enabled, the front-end User Control Panel upload path ignores the admin's configured file-type allow-list (File::upload with allow_unsafe=true), so any registered member can upload a .php web shell into the web-served /phocadownload/userupload/ directory and execute it: authenticated remote code execution. CVE-2026-57828 (Joomla CNA, CVSS 4.0 9.0 Critical). Phoca fixed this on the 6.x branch only, in 6.1.3 (10 Jul 2026). The Joomla 5 line stops at 5.1.3 (22 Aug 2025) and still holds the vulnerable code: both File::upload() calls pass allow_unsafe=true and the front-end gate is still the pre-fix $frontEnd == 1 test. Verified on 27 Aug 2026 by diffing the released com_phocadownload zips. 5.1.3 is the newest build Joomla will offer a Joomla 5 site, so no update shown in Joomla Admin will ever clear this, and being fully up to date on the 5.x line does not make the site safe. Switch off user uploads (enable_user_cp), or move the site to a Joomla version that can run the patched 6.x build.
Affected versions: ≥ 5.0.0 and < 6.0.0
Full advisory: our disclosure post
Our disclosure post
Other vulnerabilities in Phoca Download
Updating for CVE-2026-57828 alone can leave a site on a release another rule still matches. These are the other flaws we check for in the same extension.
Phoca Download
Latest safe version: 6.1.5
- CVE-2026-76569 Medium, from 6.1.4 up to but not including 6.1.5
References
- CVE-2026-57828 on cve.org (the official CVE record)
- CVE-2026-57828 in the NIST National Vulnerability Database
- Phoca Download 6.1.3 Fixes an Authenticated Upload RCE
CVE-2026-57828 questions
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-57828?
CVE-2026-57828 is covered by 4 rules: Phoca Download from 6.0.0 up to but not including 6.1.3; Phoca Download before 4.0.0; Phoca Download from 4.0.0 up to but not including 5.0.0; Phoca Download from 5.0.0 up to but not including 6.0.0.
How do I fix CVE-2026-57828?
It depends on the extension and release line your site runs. For Phoca Download from 6.0.0 up to but not including 6.1.3: update Phoca Download to 6.1.3 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches. For Phoca Download before 4.0.0: update Phoca Download to 4.0.0 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches. For Phoca Download from 4.0.0 up to but not including 5.0.0: update Phoca Download to 5.0.0 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches. For Phoca Download from 5.0.0 up to but not including 6.0.0: update Phoca Download to 6.0.0 for this flaw, or to 6.1.5 or later, which no rule we check matches.
How severe is CVE-2026-57828?
Joomla CNA scores it 9.0 (Critical) under CVSS 4.0. In plain terms: reachable across the internet, any logged-in account will do and nobody has to be tricked into anything.
Running an affected version on a site you manage?
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This check is part of the mySites.guru Joomla vulnerability scanner, which reads every installed extension's version on each audit. Browse the rest of the Joomla vulnerability database.
Rules current as of 5 October 2026.