CVE-2025-32223 in Tutor LMS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/19/2026
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in Themeum Tutor LMS allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Tutor LMS: from n/a through 3.9.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-32223 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the Themeum Tutor LMS platform that fundamentally undermines the system's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of incorrect access control configuration, specifically manifesting as an authorization bypass through user-controlled key manipulation. The flaw exists in Tutor LMS versions ranging from the initial release through 3.9.4, indicating a prolonged period during which this security weakness has been present and potentially exploitable by malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user inputs that control access permissions, allowing unauthorized individuals to manipulate authentication tokens or keys that should normally be restricted to legitimate administrators or authorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the improper handling of user-controlled keys within the authorization framework of the Tutor LMS platform. When users interact with the system's access control mechanisms, the platform fails to properly validate whether the keys or tokens provided are legitimate and authorized for the requested operations. This misconfiguration allows attackers to craft malicious requests using manipulated keys that bypass normal authentication checks, effectively granting them access to restricted resources and functionality that should only be available to authorized personnel. The vulnerability specifically targets the authorization layer rather than the authentication layer, meaning that even if legitimate authentication occurs, the system's access control policies can be circumvented through key manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive educational data, course materials, user information, and administrative controls within the Tutor LMS environment. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could manipulate course content, modify user permissions, access private student information, and potentially disrupt the entire learning management system's integrity. The implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and unauthorized modification of educational content. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system takeover if not addressed promptly. The impact is particularly concerning in educational environments where sensitive student data and academic records are stored within these platforms.
Security mitigations for CVE-2025-32223 must focus on strengthening the access control validation mechanisms within the Tutor LMS platform. Organizations should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability, while also implementing additional security controls such as input validation, key rotation mechanisms, and enhanced monitoring of access control events. The implementation of proper access control policies should include server-side validation of all user-controlled keys and tokens, ensuring that only legitimate authorization mechanisms are accepted. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control lists to limit exposure, while establishing robust logging and monitoring capabilities to detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. The remediation process should include comprehensive security testing of access control mechanisms, code reviews focusing on authorization logic, and implementation of security controls that enforce proper access control validation at all system entry points.