📄 Description (English)
Nginx UI is a web user interface for the Nginx web server. Prior to version 2.3.4, the nginx-ui configuration improperly handles URL-encoded traversal sequences. When specially crafted paths are supplied, the backend resolves them to the base Nginx configuration directory and executes the operation on the base directory (/etc/nginx). In particular, this allows an authenticated user to remove the entire /etc/nginx directory, resulting in a partial Denial of Service. This issue has been patched in version 2.3.4.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
Nginx UI versions prior to 2.3.4 contain a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) that allows authenticated users to manipulate URL-encoded sequences and access the base Nginx configuration directory (/etc/nginx). An attacker could delete the entire Nginx configuration directory, causing partial denial of service. While requiring authentication, the vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations using Nginx UI for web server management, particularly in critical infrastructure environments.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 13, 2026 02:35
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations operating critical web infrastructure are at elevated risk, particularly: (1) Banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions) relying on Nginx for API gateways and web services; (2) Government agencies (NCA oversight) using Nginx UI for centralized web server management; (3) Telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily) managing high-traffic web properties; (4) Energy sector (ARAMCO, utilities) with web-facing SCADA interfaces; (5) Healthcare providers managing patient portals. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where Nginx configuration integrity is critical for service continuity and security posture.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Telecommunications
Energy and Utilities
Healthcare
E-commerce and Retail
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Audit all Nginx UI deployments in your environment and document version numbers
2. Restrict access to Nginx UI administrative interfaces using network segmentation and WAF rules
3. Implement strict RBAC to limit authenticated user privileges to minimum necessary permissions
4. Enable comprehensive audit logging for all Nginx UI configuration changes
5. Monitor /etc/nginx directory for unauthorized modifications using file integrity monitoring (FIM)
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade Nginx UI to version 2.3.4 or later immediately upon availability
2. If patch unavailable, implement compensating controls (see below)
3. Test patches in non-production environments before deployment
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patch unavailable):
1. Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block URL-encoded traversal sequences (%2e%2e, ../, etc.)
2. Implement input validation at application layer to reject path traversal attempts
3. Run Nginx UI with minimal privileges (non-root user with restricted filesystem permissions)
4. Use AppArmor or SELinux profiles to restrict Nginx UI process access to /etc/nginx
5. Implement network-level access controls limiting Nginx UI access to authorized administrators only
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor HTTP requests to Nginx UI containing URL-encoded sequences: %2e, %2f, %5c
2. Alert on any DELETE or modification requests targeting paths containing traversal patterns
3. Monitor /etc/nginx directory for unexpected deletions or modifications
4. Track failed authentication attempts followed by successful access
5. Log all configuration changes with source IP and user identity
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تدقيق جميع نشرات Nginx UI في بيئتك وتوثيق أرقام الإصدارات
2. تقييد الوصول إلى واجهات إدارة Nginx UI باستخدام تقسيم الشبكة وقواعد جدار الحماية
3. تنفيذ التحكم في الوصول القائم على الأدوار (RBAC) لتحديد امتيازات المستخدم المصرح له
4. تفعيل تسجيل التدقيق الشامل لجميع تغييرات إعدادات Nginx UI
5. مراقبة دليل /etc/nginx للتعديلات غير المصرح بها باستخدام مراقبة سلامة الملفات
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية Nginx UI إلى الإصدار 2.3.4 أو أحدث فوراً عند توفره
2. إذا لم يكن التصحيح متاحاً، تنفيذ الضوابط البديلة
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج قبل النشر
الضوابط البديلة:
1. نشر قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب لحجب تسلسلات اجتياز المسار المشفرة بـ URL
2. تنفيذ التحقق من صحة المدخلات على مستوى التطبيق لرفض محاولات اجتياز المسار
3. تشغيل Nginx UI بامتيازات محدودة (مستخدم غير جذر مع أذونات نظام ملفات مقيدة)
4. استخدام ملفات تعريف AppArmor أو SELinux لتقييد وصول عملية Nginx UI إلى /etc/nginx
5. تنفيذ ضوابط الوصول على مستوى الشبكة لتحديد وصول Nginx UI للمسؤولين المصرح لهم فقط
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة طلبات HTTP إلى Nginx UI التي تحتوي على تسلسلات مشفرة بـ URL
2. التنبيه على أي طلبات DELETE أو تعديل تستهدف مسارات تحتوي على أنماط اجتياز
3. مراقبة دليل /etc/nginx للحذف أو التعديلات غير المتوقعة
4. تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة متبوعة بالوصول الناجح
5. تسجيل جميع تغييرات الإعدادات مع عنوان IP المصدر وهوية المستخدم
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.6.1.1 - User access management and authentication
A.8.1.1 - Asset management and inventory
A.12.4.1 - Event logging and monitoring
A.13.1.1 - Network security controls
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software inventory and asset management
PR.AC-1 - Access control and authentication
PR.AC-4 - Access rights and privileges management
DE.CM-1 - System monitoring and event detection
DE.AE-1 - Anomaly detection and analysis
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1 - Management direction for information security
A.6.1 - Screening and access control
A.8.1 - Asset inventory and responsibility
A.12.4 - Logging and monitoring
A.13.1 - Network security perimeter
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 1.1 - Firewall configuration standards
Requirement 2.1 - Default security parameters
Requirement 6.2 - Security patches and updates
Requirement 10.2 - User access logging
Requirement 10.3 - Audit trail protection
🔗 References & Sources 3
🔗
https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/releases/tag/v2.3.4
security-advisories@github.com
Product
Release Notes
🔗
https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/security/advisories/GHSA-m8p8-53vf-8357
security-advisories@github.com
Exploit
Vendor Advisory
🔗
https://github.com/0xJacky/nginx-ui/security/advisories/GHSA-m8p8-53vf-8357
134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Exploit
Vendor Advisory
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
nginxui:nginx_ui