---
id: CVE-2026-30971
title: 'ZoneMinder: Authenticated RCE via command injection in monitor Device Path'
summary: >-
  ZoneMinder is a free, open source closed-circuit television software
  application. Prior to 1.39.2, 1.38.2, and 1.36.40, ZoneMinder interpolates an
  unvalidated monitor Device field into shell commands in PHP and Perl control
  paths when an…
severity: high
cvss: 8.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-78
vendor: ZoneMinder
product: zoneminder
affected:
  - zoneminder < 1.36.40
  - 'zoneminder >= 1.38.0, < 1.38.2'
  - 'zoneminder >= 1.39.0, < 1.39.2'
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-10-16T19:56:46.321699Z'
exploitAvailable: true
published: '2026-10-16'
updated: '2026-10-16'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-16T19:57:11.752Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-30971'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder/security/advisories/GHSA-g66m-77fq-79v9
    label: >-
      https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder/security/advisories/GHSA-g66m-77fq-79v9
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder/commit/419846c8750c3f45b9b8a1df8cd49c189a14dc03
    label: >-
      https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder/commit/419846c8750c3f45b9b8a1df8cd49c189a14dc03
tags:
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
ingestedAt: '2026-10-16T20:51:40.023Z'
---

## Overview

ZoneMinder is a free, open source closed-circuit television software application. Prior to 1.39.2, 1.38.2, and 1.36.40, ZoneMinder interpolates an unvalidated monitor Device field into shell commands in PHP and Perl control paths when an authenticated user with monitor-create or monitor-edit permission saves a Local monitor whose Device Path contains shell metacharacters and the monitor control or startup path runs. In this attack mechanism, the stored Device value reaches Perl qx() and backtick execution before zmdc.pl argument detainting, while separate PHP command paths use bypassable escapeshellcmd defenses. The attacker can execute arbitrary commands as the web server user. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.39.2, 1.38.2, and 1.36.40.

## Affected

- `zoneminder < 1.36.40`
- `zoneminder >= 1.38.0, < 1.38.2`
- `zoneminder >= 1.39.0, < 1.39.2`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.