# CVE-2026-48945: Joomla K2 extension unrestricted file upload in article gallery upload

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48945-joomla-k2-extension-unrestricted-file-upload-in-article-gallery  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-06-25. Updated: 2026-06-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-48945 · Severity: info · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-06-25

K2 is a popular content management extension for Joomla websites used to manage articles and media galleries. A security flaw in the gallery upload feature allows users with upload permissions to bypass security checks by hiding malicious files inside compressed archives. If exploited, an attacker could take full control of the website by executing arbitrary code on the server.

Technologies: [JoomlaWorks K2](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/k2). Vendors: [JoomlaWorks](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/joomlaworks).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-48945 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-48945 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-48945?** Informational severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 25 June 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** JoomlaWorks K2 1.0-2.26.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-48945?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-48945 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-48945?** Check whether you run JoomlaWorks K2 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.

## Technical details

An unrestricted file upload vulnerability exists in the K2 extension for Joomla (versions 1.0 through 2.26) within the article gallery upload component. When a user uploads a zip or tar archive, the extension extracts the contents to `/media/k2/galleries/<id>/`. While the system renames recognized image formats (gif, jpg, jpeg, png, webp) to safe filenames, it fails to sanitize or rename other file types. Consequently, an attacker with gallery upload privileges can include a PHP script within an archive, which remains executable via direct HTTP access after extraction, leading to full remote code execution (RCE).

## Affected products

- getk2.com K2 extension for Joomla 1.0-2.26

## Timeline

- 2026-06-25: disclosed: CVE published by the Joomla! Project

## References

- [https://www.getk2.org/](https://www.getk2.org/)

## Related threats

- [Joomla K2 Extension Unrestricted File Upload in Article Attachments](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48946-joomla-k2-extension-unrestricted-file-upload-in-article)
- [Joomla K2 path traversal in article-save handler](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48944-joomla-k2-path-traversal-in-article-save-handler)
- [JoomlaWorks K2 mass-assignment in plg_user_k2 plugin](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48943-joomlaworks-k2-mass-assignment-in-plg-user-k2-plugin)
- [Joomla K2 Extension Cross-Site Scripting in User Images](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48942-joomla-k2-extension-cross-site-scripting-in-user-images)
- [Joomla K2 extension unauthorized folder deletion in item.checkin task](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48941-joomla-k2-extension-unauthorized-folder-deletion-in-item-checkin)