CVE-2026-105046 in Xperience
Summary
by MITRE • 10/03/2026
Kentico Xperience 13 before 13.0.216 lacks object-level authorization checks for administration API endpoints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2026
The vulnerability identified in Kentico Xperience versions prior to 13.0.216 represents a critical failure in the implementation of access control mechanisms within the platform's administrative application programming interface. This flaw specifically affects how the system validates user permissions when processing requests directed at administration endpoints that manage individual objects or resources. In secure software architecture, it is imperative that every API endpoint performs rigorous authorization checks to ensure that the authenticated user possesses the necessary privileges for the specific resource being accessed. The absence of these object-level checks means that the application relies solely on broader role-based access controls without verifying if the current session has permission to interact with the particular data instance targeted by the request. This architectural oversight creates a significant security gap where valid authentication does not guarantee authorized action, allowing users to bypass intended restrictions through direct manipulation of API calls.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 Improper Access Control and aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it involves the misuse of legitimate credentials to perform unauthorized actions. The core issue lies in the server-side logic that processes administrative requests. When an administrator or a user with elevated privileges attempts to modify, delete, or view specific content items via the API, the system fails to cross-reference the request against the granular permissions assigned to those objects. Consequently, if an attacker can obtain valid credentials for any account with basic administrative access, they may exploit this lack of granularity to perform actions reserved for higher-level administrators or other users who should not have such privileges. This is particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments or applications where different user groups are expected to have distinct scopes of influence over specific data sets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it effectively undermines the principle of least privilege within the Kentico Xperience administration panel. Attackers can exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges by performing actions such as deleting critical content, modifying system configurations, or accessing sensitive user data that they are not explicitly authorized to view. This could lead to complete compromise of the web application's integrity and confidentiality. For organizations relying on Kentico for digital experience management, this means that a single compromised account with minimal permissions could potentially be leveraged to cause significant damage, disrupt business operations, or exfiltrate sensitive information. The lack of object-level authorization also complicates audit trails and forensic analysis, as actions are performed under the guise of legitimate administrative activity but without proper justification in the permission model.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running Kentico Xperience versions earlier than 13.0.216 must immediately apply the vendor-provided security patch that addresses these authorization checks. Until the update is applied, administrators should strictly limit access to the administration API endpoints by implementing network-level controls such as firewalls or reverse proxies that restrict IP address access to trusted sources only. Additionally, enforcing multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts can reduce the likelihood of credential compromise, although it does not fully mitigate the authorization flaw itself. It is also advisable to review existing user roles and permissions to ensure that no unnecessary high-level privileges are assigned to users who do not require them, thereby reducing the potential blast radius if an account is compromised. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted post-upgrade to verify that object-level access controls are functioning as intended across all administrative interfaces.