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CVE ID

# CVE-2026-56291

Published 2026-07-09

Updated 2 months ago

Vendor/s

Balbooa

Product/s

Forms

Version/s

\* > 2.4.1

KEV Status

Active Exploitation

Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Active exploitation observed in the wild.

CVSS Score (v3.1)

9.8

/ 10

Critical

Severity Details

Base score

9.8 Critical

Attack vector

Network

Attack complexity

Low

Privileges required

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Table of Contents

[Description ](#description)[Why this matters ](#why-this-matters)[CPE ](#cpe)[Related weakness (CWE) ](#cwe)[Remediation plan ](#remediation)[Detection Guidance ](#detection-guidance)[References ](#references)[Sources](#sources)

[Description ](#description)[Why this matters ](#why-this-matters)[CPE ](#cpe)[Related weakness (CWE) ](#cwe)[Remediation plan ](#remediation)[Detection Guidance ](#detection-guidance)[References ](#references)[Sources](#sources)

## Description

CVE-2026-56291 is a critical RCE vulnerability in Balbooa Forms (< 2.4.1) for Joomla. Actively exploited and carries a 9.8 CVSS score.

## Why this matters

"CVE-2026-56291 is a critical vulnerability in the Balbooa Forms extension for Joomla, carrying a CVSS score of 9.8. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary executable files to the server, directly resulting in Remote Code Execution (RCE). Its inclusion in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog indicates that this vulnerability is being actively targeted in the wild. Because it requires no user interaction or authentication, any Joomla site using vulnerable versions of Balbooa Forms is at high risk of complete system compromise, data theft, and persistent backdoor installation."

## CPE

Balbooa

| Product | Version Start | Version End (excl.) | Status     |
| ------- | ------------- | ------------------- | ---------- |
| forms   | \*            | 2.4.1               | vulnerable |

## Related weakness (CWE)

CWE-434

## Remediation plan

1

### Apply official patches

Download and install the latest security update provided by Balbooa. Ensure the Forms extension is updated to version 2.4.1 or higher to resolve the insecure file upload logic.

2

### Update affected systems

Identify all Joomla installations running Balbooa Forms versions prior to 2.4.1. Use a centralized management tool or manual audit to ensure every instance is patched across production and staging environments.

3

### Restrict access

Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to block suspicious POST requests to the Forms component. Limit access to the Joomla administrator directory and restrict file upload permissions on the web server to prevent execution in upload directories.

4

### Monitor for exploitation

Review web server access logs for unusual POST requests to the Balbooa Forms directory. Inspect the server for unauthorized PHP files or web shells in the media and component folders, and monitor for unexpected outbound network connections.

## Detection Guidance

"Monitor web server logs for POST requests directed at the Balbooa Forms component from unknown IP addresses, especially those followed by immediate access to newly created .php files in upload directories. Use File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) to alert on new executable files within the Joomla /components/com\_baforms/ or /media/ paths. Look for common web shell signatures and unexpected system-level processes initiated by the web server user."

## References

[https://mysites.guru/blog/balbooa-forms-unauthenticated-file-upload-flaw/ Exploit Third Party Advisory ](https://mysites.guru/blog/balbooa-forms-unauthenticated-file-upload-flaw/)[https://www.balbooa.com/joomla-forms Product ](https://www.balbooa.com/joomla-forms)[https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field\_cve=CVE-2026-56291 US Government Resource](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-56291)

## Sources

NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD)

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV)

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