CVE-2021-26215 in SeedDMS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/19/2021
SeedDMS 5.1.x is affected by cross-site request forgery (CSRF) in out.EditDocument.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-26215 affects SeedDMS version 5.1.x, specifically within the out.EditDocument.php component of this document management system. This represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. The affected system operates as a web-based document management platform that handles document creation, editing, and administrative functions through various php scripts including the vulnerable EditDocument.php endpoint.
Cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities occur when a web application fails to properly validate the origin of HTTP requests, allowing malicious actors to trick authenticated users into executing unintended actions against a web application they are currently authenticated to. The CSRF vulnerability in SeedDMS out.EditDocument.php specifically targets the document editing functionality, enabling attackers to manipulate document properties, content, or metadata through forged requests. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness that occurs when a web application does not adequately verify that requests originate from legitimate sources. The vulnerability exists because the application lacks proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms in the document editing workflow, making it susceptible to exploitation by attackers who can craft malicious requests that appear to come from legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, potentially allowing attackers to compromise document integrity, access sensitive information, or even escalate privileges within the system. When an authenticated user visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link containing forged requests, the browser automatically includes any relevant cookies or authentication tokens, thereby executing unauthorized actions against the SeedDMS system. This threat vector can lead to document corruption, unauthorized access to confidential information, or even complete system compromise if the application lacks proper access controls. The attack surface is particularly concerning because document management systems often contain sensitive corporate or personal data, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations relying on SeedDMS for their document handling needs. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1566 technique for "Phishing" and T1078 for "Valid Accounts" as attackers can leverage authenticated sessions to perform malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-26215 should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the SeedDMS application. The most effective approach involves generating and validating unique, unpredictable tokens for each user session and ensuring these tokens are required for all state-changing operations including document editing functions. Organizations should immediately upgrade to SeedDMS versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches containing proper CSRF protection measures. Additional defensive measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which requests can originate, ensuring proper session management with secure cookie attributes, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional monitoring and blocking capabilities for suspicious CSRF attempts, while user education about phishing risks can help prevent initial compromise through social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability.