# CVE-2026-72556: ZoneMinder privilege escalation via broken permission check

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-72556-zoneminder-privilege-escalation-via-broken-permission-check  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-11. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-72556 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-08-11

ZoneMinder is open-source video surveillance software used to monitor IP and analog cameras. A vulnerability in version 1.39.17 allows any authenticated user—regardless of their assigned role—to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the server by bypassing permission checks in the filter management feature. An attacker with valid login credentials could compromise the entire surveillance system and the underlying server.

Technologies: [Zoneminder](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/zoneminder). Vendors: [Zoneminder](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/zoneminder).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-72556 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-72556 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-72556?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 11 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Zoneminder 1.39.17.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-72556?** 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-2026-72556 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-72556?** Check whether you run Zoneminder 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

The vulnerability exists in the Filter class's canEdit() and canDelete() methods, which invoke non-existent methods on the ZM\User class. Due to PHP's __call() magic method, these calls return a truthy value instead of properly evaluating user permissions, allowing any authenticated user to pass the permission check. The flaw enables filter-based OS command execution regardless of the attacker's assigned role or privileges. The attack requires valid authentication credentials but no additional user interaction. Patches or mitigations should be checked via the vendor's release notes.

## Affected products

- ZoneMinder ZoneMinder 1.39.17

## Timeline

- 2026-08-11: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder](https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder)

## Related threats

- [ZoneMinder command injection in monitor Device Path](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-30971-zoneminder-is-a-free-open-source-closed-circuit-television)
- [ZoneMinder command injection in downloadEvents](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102608-zoneminder-is-a-free-open-source-closed-circuit-television)
- [ZoneMinder command injection in event export](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102607-zoneminder-is-a-free-open-source-closed-circuit-television)
- [ZoneMinder authentication bypass in token validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-104198-zoneminder-is-a-free-open-source-closed-circuit-television)
- [ZoneMinder access control bypass in FramesController](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102297-zoneminder-before-1-38-4-fails-to-apply-per-monitor-access)