CVE-2026-32300: Connect-CMS Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2026-32300 Overview

Connect-CMS is an open-source content management system developed by opensource-workshop. A critical improper authorization vulnerability has been identified in the My Page profile update feature that allows authenticated attackers to modify arbitrary user information. This authorization bypass affects the profile update functionality, enabling unauthorized modification of other users' account data through manipulated requests.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can exploit this improper authorization flaw to modify arbitrary user information, potentially leading to account takeover, privilege escalation, and data integrity compromise within Connect-CMS installations.

Affected Products

Connect-CMS version 1.x series up to and including 1.41.0
Connect-CMS version 2.x series up to and including 2.41.0
opensource-workshop connect-cms

Discovery Timeline

2026-03-23 - CVE CVE-2026-32300 published to NVD
2026-03-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-32300

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from an improper authorization implementation (CWE-285) in the My Page profile update feature of Connect-CMS. The flaw exists in how the application handles user profile update requests, specifically in the ProfileMypage.php plugin and associated view template. The vulnerable code accepted a user ID parameter in the URL path, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary user IDs when submitting profile update requests.

The core issue is that the application failed to properly verify that the authenticated user was authorized to modify only their own profile data. By manipulating the user ID parameter in the profile update URL, an attacker with valid credentials could submit modification requests targeting other users' accounts.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the insecure design of the profile update endpoint. The vulnerable implementation exposed the user ID in the URL path (/mypage/profile/update/{{$id}}), relying on client-supplied data to determine which user's profile to update rather than using the server-side authenticated session. Additionally, the code imported and utilized the App\User model in ways that permitted direct manipulation of arbitrary user records without proper authorization checks.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires low-privilege authentication. An attacker must first obtain valid credentials for any Connect-CMS account. Once authenticated, the attacker can exploit the vulnerability by:

Accessing the My Page profile update feature
Intercepting or crafting a POST request to the profile update endpoint
Modifying the user ID parameter in the URL to target a different user
Submitting the request to modify the targeted user's information

The following patch demonstrates the security fix applied by the vendor:

php

// View template fix - resources/views/plugins/mypage/profile/edit_form.blade.php
// BEFORE (vulnerable):
<form action="{{url('/')}}/mypage/profile/update/{{$id}}" class="form-horizontal" method="POST" name="form_profile">

// AFTER (patched):
<form action="{{url('/')}}/mypage/profile/update" class="form-horizontal" method="POST" name="form_profile">

Source: GitHub Commit

The patch removes the user-controllable ID parameter from the URL path, ensuring profile updates are tied to the authenticated user's session rather than a client-supplied parameter.

php

// Controller fix - app/Plugins/Mypage/ProfileMypage/ProfileMypage.php
// Removed import allowing arbitrary user manipulation:
-use App\User;

// The fix ensures the authenticated user context is used via:
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;

Source: GitHub Commit

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-32300

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected modifications to user profile data, particularly for administrator or high-privilege accounts
Web server logs showing profile update requests with mismatched user IDs (requests to /mypage/profile/update/{id} where the ID doesn't match the authenticated session)
Multiple profile update attempts from a single session targeting different user IDs
Audit logs indicating profile changes that users did not initiate

Detection Strategies

Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block profile update requests containing user ID parameters that don't match the authenticated session
Enable detailed access logging on Connect-CMS installations to track all profile modification requests
Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on unusual patterns of profile update activity from single sessions
Review application logs for POST requests to /mypage/profile/update/* endpoints with varying user ID values

Monitoring Recommendations

Audit user profile modification events and correlate with authenticated session data
Monitor for sudden changes to user email addresses, passwords, or privilege levels
Establish baseline metrics for profile update frequency and alert on anomalies
Implement real-time alerting for modifications to administrator accounts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-32300

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Connect-CMS 1.x installations to version 1.41.1 or later immediately
Upgrade Connect-CMS 2.x installations to version 2.41.1 or later immediately
Review user profile data for any unauthorized modifications, particularly for administrator accounts
Consider resetting passwords for all users if compromise is suspected
Audit access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Patches are available from opensource-workshop. Users should upgrade to the fixed versions:

Version 1.x series: Upgrade to v1.41.1 or later
Version 2.x series: Upgrade to v2.41.1 or later

The security fix is documented in the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-qr6x-wvxr-8hm9 and implemented in commit 7c9951738c62a1d51b91e9956d1eb756c5d52cce.

Workarounds

If immediate patching is not possible, consider restricting access to the My Page profile feature until the update can be applied
Implement additional authentication controls or session validation at the web server or reverse proxy level
Limit user registration and account creation to reduce the attack surface
Monitor profile update endpoints with enhanced logging until patching is complete

bash

# Example: Verify Connect-CMS version and apply update
# Check current version in your Connect-CMS installation
cat composer.json | grep version

# Update to patched version using Composer
composer update opensource-workshop/connect-cms

# Verify the update was successful
php artisan --version