CVE-2023-32749 in Pydio Cells
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2023
Pydio Cells allows users by default to create so-called external users in order to share files with them. By modifying the HTTP request sent when creating such an external user, it is possible to assign the new user arbitrary roles. By assigning all roles to a newly created user, access to all cells and non-personal workspaces is granted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
CVE-2023-32749 represents a critical authorization bypass vulnerability within Pydio Cells, a document management platform that facilitates file sharing and collaboration. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation during the external user creation process, allowing authenticated users to manipulate HTTP requests and escalate their privileges. The flaw exists in the platform's access control mechanisms where the system fails to properly validate role assignments when creating external users, creating a path for privilege escalation through request manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the modification of HTTP request parameters during external user creation, specifically targeting the role assignment component of the user provisioning process. When a user creates an external user, the system should validate that the assigned roles are appropriate and authorized for the creating user's permissions. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to submit arbitrary role values, including administrative roles that grant access to all cells and non-personal workspaces within the platform. This misconfiguration creates a direct path for privilege escalation from standard user to administrative level access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Pydio Cells for document management and collaboration. The ability to assign all roles to newly created users effectively grants unlimited access to the entire platform's resources, including sensitive documents, administrative functions, and workspace configurations. Attackers could potentially compromise entire organizational data repositories, manipulate file permissions, and execute administrative actions without proper authorization. The default configuration of allowing external user creation with minimal role validation creates an inherent security weakness that can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1484 (Domain Policy Modification) within the adversary tactics framework. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling external user creation capabilities where possible, implementing strict role validation mechanisms, and enforcing principle of least privilege for all user accounts. Network segmentation and monitoring of external user creation activities should be implemented to detect anomalous behavior. Additionally, regular security audits of user provisioning processes and role assignments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities. The platform should be updated to the latest version where this vulnerability has been patched, and administrators should review and restrict external user creation permissions to only trusted administrative users.