openemr: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
CVE-2026-39932 is a critical-severity improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code vulnerability in openemr, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected openemr versions: 8.2.0 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 81% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of openemr you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 9.4 | Critical | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
OpenEMR through 8.2.0 contains a remote code execution vulnerability in the document category tree component (library/classes/Tree.class.php) that allows authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary operating system commands by injecting PHP payloads into the categories database table. Attackers can chain arbitrary SQL execution to alter the id column type to VARCHAR and insert a malicious PHP payload, which is then executed via an unsanitized eval() call whenever any page instantiates CategoryTree, including unauthenticated and low-privilege pages, resulting in command execution as the web server user.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code
The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes code syntax before using the input in a dynamic evaluation call (e.g. eval).
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If possible, refactor your code so that it does not need to use eval() at all.
- For Python programs, it is frequently encouraged to use the ast.literal_eval() function instead of eval, since it is intentionally designed to avoid executing code. However, an adversary could still cause excessive memory or stack consumption via deeply nested structures, so the python documentation discourages use of ast.literal_eval() on untrusted data.
More Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code vulnerabilities (CWE-95)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- jivasecurity.com/writeups/openemr-eval-rce-category-tree-cve-2026-39932Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- vulncheck.com/advisories/openemr-remote-code-execution-via-categorytree-eval-injectionExploit, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in openemr
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code vulnerabilities
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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