CVE-2026-1702: Pet Grooming Software Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2026-1702 Overview

A vulnerability was detected in SourceCodester Pet Grooming Management Software 1.0 that allows improper authorization through the User Management component. The vulnerability exists in the file /admin/operation/user.php, where manipulation of the group_id argument enables attackers to bypass authorization controls. This improper access control flaw can be exploited remotely, and a public exploit is now available.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can manipulate the group_id parameter to bypass authorization controls, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user management functions and compromising user data within the Pet Grooming Management Software.

Affected Products

• SourceCodester Pet Grooming Management Software 1.0
• User Management component (/admin/operation/user.php)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-30 - CVE-2026-1702 published to NVD
• 2026-02-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-1702

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-266 (Incorrect Privilege Assignment), which occurs when a product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. In the context of Pet Grooming Management Software, the User Management component fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has the appropriate privileges to perform operations associated with a specific group_id.

The flaw enables authenticated users with lower privileges to manipulate the group_id parameter when interacting with /admin/operation/user.php, potentially allowing them to access or modify resources belonging to higher-privileged groups. This type of authorization bypass can lead to unauthorized data access, privilege escalation within the application, and potential manipulation of user accounts.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the group_id parameter in the User Management component. The application fails to verify that the authenticated user has the necessary permissions to access or modify resources associated with the specified group. This missing authorization check allows attackers to reference arbitrary group identifiers and bypass intended access restrictions.

Attack Vector

The attack can be initiated remotely over the network by any authenticated user. The attacker needs valid credentials to access the application but can then manipulate HTTP requests to the /admin/operation/user.php endpoint. By altering the group_id parameter value to reference a different group (such as an administrator group), the attacker can bypass the intended access controls.

The attack requires low privileges and no user interaction, making it relatively straightforward to exploit once authentication is obtained. The vulnerability mechanism involves parameter tampering in the user management workflow, where the application trusts the client-supplied group_id value without proper server-side authorization validation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-1702

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual patterns of access to /admin/operation/user.php with varying group_id values from a single user session
• Authenticated users accessing or modifying user accounts outside their assigned permission scope
• Anomalous HTTP POST or GET requests containing manipulated group_id parameters
• Access logs showing sequential or enumerated group_id values being tested

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and alert on parameter manipulation attempts targeting the group_id field
• Deploy behavioral analysis to identify users accessing resources inconsistent with their assigned role or group membership
• Enable detailed logging for all user management operations, including the requesting user's session and the target group_id
• Monitor for failed authorization attempts that may indicate exploitation probing

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the web server for requests to /admin/operation/user.php
• Configure alerting for multiple requests with different group_id values from the same session within a short timeframe
• Review audit logs periodically for user account modifications performed by users without administrative privileges
• Implement session monitoring to track privilege-related parameter values throughout user sessions

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-1702

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the User Management component (/admin/operation/user.php) to only verified administrative users at the network or application level
• Implement additional authentication controls or IP whitelisting for administrative functions
• Audit existing user accounts for any unauthorized modifications that may indicate prior exploitation
• Consider temporarily disabling the User Management feature if the application is publicly accessible

Patch Information

No official vendor patch information is currently available from SourceCodester. Organizations using this software should monitor the SourceCodester website for security updates. Additional vulnerability details are available through VulDB #343492 and the GitHub PoC Repository.

Workarounds

• Implement server-side authorization checks that validate the requesting user's actual group membership before processing any group_id parameter
• Add input validation to ensure the group_id parameter matches the authenticated user's assigned group unless the user has administrative privileges
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule to filter requests containing unexpected group_id values
• Restrict network access to the application's administrative interface to trusted IP ranges only

# Example .htaccess restriction for admin directory
<Directory "/var/www/html/admin">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
    Allow from 10.0.0.0/8
</Directory>