CVE-2013-4189 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in (1) dataitems.py, (2) get.py, and (3) traverseName.py in Plone 2.1 through 4.1, 4.2.x through 4.2.5, and 4.3.x through 4.3.1 allow remote authenticated users with administrator access to a subtree to access nodes above the subtree via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4189 affects the Plone content management system across multiple versions including 2.1 through 4.1, 4.2.x through 4.2.5, and 4.3.x through 4.3.1. This represents a critical access control flaw that enables authenticated administrators with specific privileges to escalate their access beyond intended boundaries. The affected components include dataitems.py, get.py, and traverseName.py which are core modules responsible for data traversal and access operations within the Plone framework. These modules implement traversal mechanisms that should enforce proper access controls but contain implementation flaws that allow privilege escalation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate boundary checking and access control enforcement within the Plone traversal system. When administrators with access to a specific subtree attempt to navigate through the content hierarchy, the system fails to properly validate that their access remains constrained to the designated subtree boundaries. This allows attackers to potentially access nodes and content that should be restricted to higher-level administrative domains. The vulnerability operates through unknown vectors that likely involve manipulation of traversal parameters or path resolution mechanisms within the affected python modules, potentially leveraging the underlying object reference systems or traversal APIs.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe security risk that could enable attackers to access sensitive information, modify critical content, or potentially escalate privileges to full administrative access across the entire Plone instance. The fact that this requires only authenticated administrator access to a subtree makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already gained some level of access. The vulnerability essentially allows for horizontal privilege escalation within the content management system, potentially exposing confidential data or administrative controls that should remain isolated.
Organizations utilizing affected Plone versions should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the software, implementing additional access controls, and conducting thorough security reviews of administrative access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised environments. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual traversal patterns and access attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, as the attack vector involves legitimate administrative functions that could be difficult to distinguish from normal operational behavior.