Missing Authentication for Critical Function
CVE-2026-42221
Summary
Nginx UI is a web user interface for the Nginx web server. From version 2.0.0 prior to 2.3.8, an unauthenticated network attacker can claim the initial administrator account on a fresh nginx-ui instance during the first-run setup window. The public "/api/install" endpoint is reachable without authentication, and the request-encryption flow only protects payload confidentiality in transit; it does not authenticate who is allowed to perform installation. A remote attacker who reaches the service before the legitimate operator can set the admin email, username, and password, causing permanent initial-instance takeover. This issue has been patched in version 2.3.8.
- LOW
- NETWORK
- HIGH
- UNCHANGED
- NONE
- NONE
- HIGH
- HIGH
CWE-306 - Missing Authentication for Critical Function
The software does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
References
Advisory Timeline
- Published