CVE-2026-103988 in FileRise
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
FileRise is a self-hosted web-based file manager with multi-file upload, editing, and batch operations. Prior to 3.23.0, FileRise /api/folder/renameFolder.php authorizes an authenticated, non-folder-scoped, non-administrator with a valid CSRF token against the source folder but does not independently authorize a changed destination parent. A qualifying user who owns a source folder can move that tree beneath another user's existing folder or into the root namespace, and the operation rekeys the moved ownership and ACL records to the new path. The destination must be unused and existing victim files cannot be overwritten. Distinct pre-fix errors reveal whether a specifically guessed destination path exists, but disclose no directory listing or file contents. This issue is fixed in version 3.23.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
FileRise is a self-hosted web-based application designed for managing files through features such as multi-file upload, editing, and batch operations. The vulnerability identified affects the endpoint /api/folder/renameFolder.php prior to version 3.23.0. This specific component handles folder renaming and moving operations within the file system hierarchy managed by the application. While the software implements authentication and CSRF protection mechanisms, it contains a critical logic flaw in its authorization model that allows for unauthorized structural changes to the directory tree under certain conditions.
The core technical flaw lies in an incomplete access control check during the folder move operation. When a user initiates a request to rename or move a source folder, the application correctly verifies that the authenticated user has ownership and appropriate permissions over the source folder. It also validates the presence of a valid CSRF token to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks. However, the system fails to independently authorize whether the target destination parent directory is accessible to the requesting user. Specifically, it does not check if the current user owns or has write access to the destination folder where the tree will be relocated. This oversight means that any authenticated user with a valid CSRF token can move their owned folders into directories they do not own, including other users' private folders or the global root namespace.
This authorization bypass results in an insecure direct object reference scenario combined with improper privilege management. By moving a folder beneath another user's existing directory, the attacker effectively alters the file system structure without proper permission checks on the target location. The operation rekeys ownership and Access Control List records to reflect the new path, which can lead to confusion regarding data ownership and potentially expose files if subsequent access controls are misconfigured or rely heavily on path-based assumptions rather than explicit object-level permissions. Although the destination folder must be unused for the move to succeed, preventing immediate overwriting of victim files, the ability to inject one's own directory structure into another user's namespace is a significant integrity violation.
The operational impact includes potential data confusion and privacy violations within multi-user environments. While the vulnerability does not allow direct reading or writing of existing victim files due to the requirement that the destination be unused, it disrupts the logical isolation between users. An attacker can clutter another user’s directory space with their own folders, potentially causing denial of service through resource exhaustion or creating confusion in file management workflows. Additionally, distinct pre-fix errors reveal whether a specifically guessed destination path exists, which aids an attacker in enumerating valid paths within other users' directories without disclosing actual contents or enabling full directory listing. This information leakage facilitates further reconnaissance and targeted attacks against specific organizational structures.
From a standards perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management, as the application fails to enforce appropriate access control levels for different user roles regarding resource modification. It also relates to CWE-862 Missing Authorization, where the system does not perform an authorization check before allowing the action of moving a folder into another user's space. In terms of MITRE ATT&CK techniques, this behavior is consistent with T1074 Data Staged or T1539 Steal Web Session Cookie if combined with session hijacking, but primarily reflects lateral movement within the application’s file system structure by exploiting trust relationships and path manipulation.
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade FileRise to version 3.23.0 or later, where the authorization logic has been corrected to verify permissions for both source and destination directories. Until an upgrade is possible, administrators can implement a Web Application Firewall rule to block requests to /api/folder/renameFolder.php from untrusted sources or restrict access based on IP reputation if applicable. Additionally, reviewing application logs for unusual patterns of folder moves into non-owned directories may help detect ongoing exploitation attempts. Ensuring that the file system backend enforces strict ownership checks independent of the web layer can provide an additional defense-in-depth measure against similar logic flaws in other components.