CVE-2026-5779 Overview
An insecure direct object reference (IDOR) vulnerability has been identified in MphRx's Minerva V3.6.0, specifically affecting the /minerva/user/updateUserProfile endpoint. This critical flaw enables authenticated users to bypass authorization controls and modify other registered users' profile information without proper permission verification. The vulnerability can be chained with the password reset functionality at /webconnect/#/forgotPassword to achieve complete account takeover.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can modify any user's profile information, including email addresses, enabling password reset attacks that lead to complete account takeover of arbitrary accounts.
Affected Products
- MphRx Minerva V3.6.0
- Minerva /minerva/user/updateUserProfile endpoint
- Minerva /webconnect/#/forgotPassword endpoint
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-28 - CVE-2026-5779 published to NVD
- 2026-04-28 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-5779
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability falls under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), where the application fails to properly verify that the authenticated user has authorization to modify the target user's profile data. When a request is made to the updateUserProfile endpoint, the application accepts user-supplied identifiers without validating ownership or access permissions.
The attack is particularly dangerous because it can be weaponized as a two-stage exploit. In the first stage, an attacker modifies a victim's email address to one they control. In the second stage, they request a password reset through the forgotPassword endpoint, which sends the reset link to the attacker-controlled email address. This chain effectively grants complete control over the victim's account.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper authorization checks in the updateUserProfile endpoint. The application verifies that the requesting user is authenticated but fails to validate whether they have the authority to modify the specific user record being targeted. The endpoint directly uses user-supplied object references (such as user IDs) without confirming the authenticated user's relationship to that object.
Attack Vector
The attack leverages the network-accessible API endpoint and requires only low-privilege authentication to execute. An attacker with a valid account can craft HTTP requests to the /minerva/user/updateUserProfile endpoint, substituting another user's identifier in the request body to modify their profile data.
The exploitation flow involves identifying target user IDs (potentially through enumeration or social engineering), crafting a malicious update request with the target's identifier and attacker-controlled email address, and then triggering the password reset flow to receive credentials at the substituted email address.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-5779
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual patterns of profile update requests from single authenticated sessions targeting multiple user accounts
- Email address changes for users followed by immediate password reset requests
- API requests to /minerva/user/updateUserProfile with user identifiers that don't match the authenticated session
- Account takeover reports where victims report unauthorized email address changes
Detection Strategies
- Implement logging and alerting for profile modification requests where the target user ID differs from the authenticated user's ID
- Monitor for anomalous patterns of bulk profile updates from single IP addresses or sessions
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect parameter manipulation in user profile endpoints
- Correlate email change events with subsequent password reset requests to identify potential exploitation chains
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed audit logging for all user profile modification operations
- Configure real-time alerts for profile changes affecting privileged or administrative accounts
- Monitor authentication events following email address modifications to detect account takeover attempts
- Review access logs for the /minerva/user/updateUserProfile and /webconnect/#/forgotPassword endpoints for suspicious activity patterns
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-5779
Immediate Actions Required
- Review all user profile modification endpoints for proper authorization controls
- Implement server-side validation to ensure authenticated users can only modify their own profile data
- Add email change verification requiring confirmation from both old and new email addresses
- Enable multi-factor authentication to reduce account takeover impact
- Audit recent profile changes for signs of exploitation
Patch Information
Refer to the INCIBE Security Notice for the latest patch information and vendor guidance. Contact MphRx for specific remediation instructions and updated software versions.
Workarounds
- Implement additional authorization middleware that validates user ownership before processing profile update requests
- Require re-authentication for sensitive profile changes such as email address modifications
- Deploy rate limiting on the updateUserProfile endpoint to slow potential enumeration and mass exploitation attempts
- Consider temporarily disabling the self-service profile modification feature until a proper fix is deployed
- Implement IP-based restrictions or monitoring for administrative and sensitive account modifications
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
