# CVE-2026-44521: Studio-42 elFinder SQL injection in elFinderVolumeMySQL

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44521-studio-42-elfinder-sql-injection-in-elfindervolumemysql  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-27. Updated: 2026-06-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44521 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-05-27

elFinder is a popular open-source file manager for the web. A security vulnerability in its MySQL storage component allows logged-in users to perform unauthorized database queries. This could lead to the theft of sensitive data or cause the file manager to become unavailable, even if the user only has basic read-only permissions.

Technologies: [studio-42/elfinder (Packagist)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/studio-42-elfinder), [Studio-42 elFinder](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/elfinder). Vendors: [Packagist](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/packagist), [Studio-42](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/studio-42).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44521 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44521 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44521?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 27 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** studio-42/elfinder (Packagist) <= 2.1.67, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=2.1.68; Studio-42 elFinder <= 2.1.67.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44521?** Yes. studio-42/elfinder (Packagist): upgrade to 2.1.68 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-44521 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44521?** Check whether you run studio-42/elfinder (Packagist) or Studio-42 elFinder 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

- studio-42/elfinder (Packagist): upgrade to 2.1.68 or later

  ```sh
  composer require studio-42/elfinder:^2.1.68
  ```


## Technical details

An authenticated SQL injection vulnerability exists in the elFinderVolumeMySQL driver. The root cause is the lack of validation when decoding file hashes passed via the 'target' parameter; these decoded values are used directly in MySQL driver queries such as cacheDir(), _joinPath(), _stat(), and _fopen(). Since the storage schema relies on numeric identifiers, an attacker can provide a crafted hash to manipulate SQL logic. This allows an authenticated user, even with read-only access, to disclose database metadata or trigger a denial of service via resource-intensive queries. The issue is patched in version 2.1.68.

## Affected products

- Studio-42 elFinder <= 2.1.67

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-44521
- GHSA-c3gj-q88f-7hqj

## Timeline

- 2026-05-07: disclosed
- 2026-05-11: advisory
- 2026-05-27: other: NVD published

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/elulq](https://api.github.com/users/elulq)
- [https://github.com/elulq](https://github.com/elulq)
- [https://api.github.com/users/elulq/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/elulq/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/elulq/repos](https://api.github.com/users/elulq/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/29586225?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/29586225?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/elulq/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/elulq/events%7B/privacy%7D)

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- [elFinder SSRF protection bypass via DNS rebinding](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81889-elfinder-ssrf-protection-bypass-via-dns-rebinding)
- [elFinder: Command injection in resize background color parameter when using ImageMagick CLI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41247-elfinder-command-injection-in-resize-background-color-parameter)
- [Studio 42 elFinder vulnerable to Incorrect Access Control](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-38909-studio-42-elfinder-vulnerable-to-incorrect-access-control)