Authenticated command injection is a cybersecurity vulnerability where an attacker, after successfully authenticating to a system or application, can execute arbitrary system commands. This typically occurs when user-supplied input is improperly handled by backend code, allowing malicious commands to be injected and executed with the privileges of the authenticated user. Unlike unauthenticated command injection, this flaw requires the attacker to have valid credentials or session access. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise, depending on the level of access granted to the authenticated user. Proper input validation and least privilege principles are essential to mitigate this risk.