CIVI-SA-2026-28: Escalation via Extension Download API

The Extension Download API provides administrators with tools for installing and sideloading extensions. The API is available in PHP, HTTP, CLI, etc. To execute the API, both the POSIX process and the CiviCRM user must have certain permissions.

The issue here is not a specific vulnerability in the API; on its own, it respects ordinary permissioning. However, if the system has another vulnerability (such as XSS), then the Extension Download API is an appealing target for escalation.