CVE-2025-57758 in Contao
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2025
Contao is an Open Source CMS. In versions starting from 5.0.0 and prior to 5.3.38 and 5.6.1, the table access voter in the back end doesn't check if a user is allowed to access the corresponding module. This issue has been patched in versions 5.3.38 and 5.6.1. A workaround involves not relying solely on the voter and additionally to check USER_CAN_ACCESS_MODULE.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-57758 affects Contao, an open source content management system that has gained significant traction in enterprise environments for its flexibility and robust feature set. This security flaw exists in specific versions of Contao ranging from 5.0.0 through 5.3.37 and 5.6.0, creating a critical access control weakness that could potentially allow unauthorized users to bypass intended security restrictions within the back end administration interface.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies within the table access voter implementation in Contao's back end authentication system. This component is responsible for determining whether authenticated users possess the necessary permissions to access specific administrative modules and data tables. The flaw occurs because the access voter fails to properly validate whether a user has the appropriate authorization to access the corresponding module, creating a potential privilege escalation vector. This represents a classic access control vulnerability that aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses insufficient authorization checks in security-critical components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could potentially enable attackers to manipulate or view sensitive data within the Contao system. Given that Contao is widely used in enterprise environments for managing web content, this flaw could allow unauthorized individuals to access administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management infrastructure. This type of flaw would typically be categorized under the ATT&CK framework as privilege escalation through access control bypass techniques.
Organizations utilizing Contao in their web infrastructure should immediately assess their current version deployments and implement the available patches. The official remediation involves upgrading to Contao versions 5.3.38 or 5.6.1, which contain the necessary fixes to properly validate user permissions. Security teams should also implement the suggested workaround of not relying solely on the voter mechanism but instead implementing additional checks for USER_CAN_ACCESS_MODULE. This dual validation approach provides defense in depth and reduces the risk of exploitation while awaiting the official patch deployment. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control validation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms in content management systems.