# CVE-2026-44174: Kirby CMS arbitrary method call in REST API collection queries

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44174-kirby-cms-arbitrary-method-call-in-rest-api-collection-queries  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-16. Updated: 2026-07-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44174 · Severity: high · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-07-16

Kirby, a content management system, is vulnerable to a flaw that allows authenticated users to execute unauthorized commands through the system's search and data collection features. An attacker with basic access to the management panel could exploit this to steal sensitive information like password hashes, delete website content, or escalate their own account privileges. This could lead to a full site takeover or significant data loss.

Technologies: [Kirby](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/kirby), [getkirby/cms (Packagist)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/getkirby-cms). Vendors: [Kirby](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/kirby), [Packagist](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/packagist).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44174 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44174 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44174?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 16 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Kirby <= 4.9.0, >= 5.0.0, <= 5.4.0, <= 4.9.0, 5.0.0-5.4.0; getkirby/cms (Packagist) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=4.9.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44174?** Yes. getkirby/cms (Packagist): upgrade to 4.9.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-44174 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44174?** Check whether you run Kirby or getkirby/cms (Packagist) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- getkirby/cms (Packagist): upgrade to 4.9.1 or later

  ```sh
  composer require getkirby/cms:^4.9.1
  ```


## Technical details

Kirby's REST API endpoints for searching and querying collections (such as users, files, and pages) failed to validate the model attributes passed to methods like filter(), sort(), and findBy(). An attacker with 'Low' privileges (authenticated Panel user) can inject arbitrary model methods into these queries. Exploitation allows calling sensitive methods such as password() to retrieve hashes, root() to disclose server paths, loginPasswordless() for privilege escalation, or delete() to remove queried models. The fix, introduced in versions 4.9.1 and 5.4.1, implements a blocklist of sensitive methods and restricts query options for affected API endpoints.

## Affected products

- getkirby Kirby CMS <= 4.9.0, 5.0.0-5.4.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-44174
- GHSA-86rh-h242-j8xp

## Timeline

- 2026-05-19: patched: Versions 4.9.1 and 5.4.1 released
- 2026-05-19: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-86rh-h242-j8xp published
- 2026-07-16: disclosed: CVE-2026-44174 published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/4.9.1](https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/4.9.1)
- [https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/5.4.1](https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/5.4.1)
- [https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/security/advisories/GHSA-86rh-h242-j8xp](https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/security/advisories/GHSA-86rh-h242-j8xp)

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- [Kirby CMS stored XSS via dangerous URL schemes in KirbyTags](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-45368-kirby-cms-stored-xss-via-dangerous-url-schemes-in-kirbytags)