GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq: Composer/craftcms/cms vulnerability

Published Aug 6, 2026
·
Updated

A control-panel user who holds only the viewCategories permission for a category group (and not saveCategories) can permanently modify that group's category structure — reordering and re-parenting categories via the structures/move-element action.

A read-time authorization grant that a write endpoint later trusts. For categories, the structureEditable flag is computed from the view permission (src/elements/Category.php:205) instead of the save permission (entries correctly use saveEntries — src/elements/Entry.php:341). When the read-only category index renders, craft\base\Element::indexHtml() calls Craft::$app->getSession()->authorize('editStructure:<structureId>'); StructuresController then authorizes the structure-mutating action solely on that session grant, with no canSave re-check.

Verified on Craft CMS 5.10.5. Same class as the moderate-severity authorization bypasses fixed in 5.10.3 and 5.10.5; this is a distinct, unpatched instance.

Impact

A low-privileged, authenticated user (view-only on a category group) can persistently alter the sibling ordering and parent/child nesting of the category taxonomy. Because a category’s URI is derived from its position in the structure (ancestor slugs), moving a category changes its URL and the URLs of its descendants, and can corrupt any navigation/menus built from the category tree. This is an integrity/broken access-control issue: content that the user has no permission to modify is being modified. No confidentiality impact and no RCE; scope is content/taxonomy integrity.

Affected Software

1 affected componentFixes available
composer/craftcms/cms>=5.0.0-RC1<5.10.6
5.10.6

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade composer/craftcms/cms to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.6
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade Craft CMS to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.3
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade Craft CMS to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.5
  4. Compensating control

    Ensure that structure-mutating actions (reordering/re-parenting via the structures/move-element action) enforce a write permission check (e.g., canSave/saveCategories) at the time of mutation; do not rely solely on the session read-time authorization grant authorize('editStructure:<structureId>') when editing the category structure.

Event History

Aug 6, 2026
Advisory Published
via GitHub·09:43 PM
Data Sourced
via GitHub·09:43 PM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq?

The severity of GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq is rated at 45, indicating a moderate risk.

2

What does GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq affect?

GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq affects the Craft CMS software by allowing unauthorized modifications to category structures.

3

How can I fix GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq?

To fix GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq, update your Craft CMS installation to version 4.18.2 or later.

4

Who is impacted by GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq?

Control-panel users who have only the viewCategories permission may be impacted by GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq.

5

What actions can be performed by exploiting GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq?

Exploiting GHSA-xxpx-f366-4xpq allows a user to reorder and re-parent categories without appropriate permissions.

Contact

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