# CVE-2026-73697: Control Web Panel phpini_editor arbitrary file write and command injection

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73697-control-web-panel-cwp-before-webpanel-version-1-16-contains-an  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-02. Updated: 2026-11-02  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-73697 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-11-02

Control Web Panel (CWP) is a Linux hosting control panel. Versions before 1.16 contain critical vulnerabilities in the phpini_editor module that allow authenticated attackers to write arbitrary files to the server and execute arbitrary OS commands, leading to complete system compromise and remote code execution.

Technologies: [Control Web Panel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/control-web-panel-control-web-panel). Vendors: [Control Web Panel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/control-web-panel).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-73697 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-73697 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-73697?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 2 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Control Web Panel before 1.16.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-73697?** Yes: fixed in 1.16 and later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-73697 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-73697?** Check whether you run Control Web Panel 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

- Fixed in 1.16 and later

## Technical details

The phpini_editor module in CWP before version 1.16 suffers from two vulnerabilities: (1) the acc=update action uses file_put_contents without path confinement, allowing arbitrary file writes to attacker-specified paths, and (2) the acc=addlabelphpiniadv action passes unsanitized user input directly to shell_exec without escaping, enabling OS command injection. Both vulnerabilities require authentication and module access, but together enable remote code execution.

## Affected products

- Control Web Panel Control Web Panel before 1.16

## Timeline

- 2026-11-02: disclosed

## References

- [https://control-webpanel.com/changelog](https://control-webpanel.com/changelog)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/control-web-panel-cwp-file-write-and-command-injection](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/control-web-panel-cwp-file-write-and-command-injection)

## Related threats

- [Control Web Panel SQL injection in unauthenticated API route](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-77881-control-web-panel-cwp-before-webpanel-version-1-30-contains-a)
- [Control Web Panel OS command injection in password change API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-77880-control-web-panel-cwp-before-webpanel-version-1-16-contains-an-os)
- [Control Web Panel OS command injection in database restore API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-77878-control-web-panel-cwp-before-webpanel-version-1-30-contains-an-os)
- [Control Web Panel missing authentication in loopback API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-77877-control-web-panel-cwp-before-webpanel-version-1-30-contains-a)
- [Control Web Panel OS command injection in protected_directory](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-77876-control-web-panel-cwp-before-webpanel-version-1-16-contains-an-os)