CVE-2026-105848 in plugin-stripe
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Payload is a free and open source headless content management system. In @payloadcms/plugin-stripe versions before 3.90.0 and canary versions before 4.0.0-canary.34, an authenticated user who can reach the enabled optional Stripe REST proxy can perform unintended Stripe operations. This issue is fixed in versions 3.90.0 and 4.0.0-canary.34.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2026
The vulnerability identified in Payload CMS plugin-stripe represents a significant authorization flaw within an authenticated context, specifically affecting the optional Stripe REST proxy functionality prior to version 3.90.0 for stable releases and before 4.0.0-canary.34 for canary builds. As a headless content management system widely adopted for its flexibility and developer-friendly API-first approach, Payload CMS relies heavily on robust access control mechanisms to ensure that users interact only with resources they are permitted to manage. The plugin-stripe extension facilitates integration between the CMS and Stripe payment services, allowing for automated handling of subscriptions, invoices, and customer data. However, in the affected versions, the implementation of this proxy fails to enforce strict authorization checks on specific endpoints or actions exposed through the REST interface. This oversight allows any authenticated user who has access to the Payload admin panel or API to invoke unintended Stripe operations, effectively bypassing the intended business logic that should restrict such high-privilege actions to administrative users only.
From a technical perspective, this flaw is classified under CWE-862, which denotes Missing Authorization, and aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, specifically Valid Accounts used for lateral movement or privilege escalation within the application context. The core issue lies in the server-side validation logic of the Stripe proxy endpoint. When an authenticated request is received to perform a Stripe operation such as creating a subscription, updating customer details, or processing refunds, the system verifies that the user has valid credentials but neglects to verify whether those credentials possess the requisite administrative privileges for financial operations. This lack of role-based access control (RBAC) enforcement means that standard editors, authors, or any other authenticated roles can execute commands typically reserved for super administrators. The absence of these checks creates a direct path for unauthorized modification of payment-related data and potentially triggers unintended financial transactions depending on the specific Stripe API methods exposed through the proxy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for both data integrity compromise and financial loss. An attacker with low-level access could manipulate customer records in Stripe, leading to incorrect billing cycles or unauthorized subscription changes that affect end-users. Furthermore, if the integration allows for refund processing or coupon application through these endpoints, an attacker could exploit them to generate fraudulent refunds or apply discounts without authorization, resulting in direct monetary losses for the organization. Beyond financial implications, this vulnerability undermines trust in the CMS platform by exposing sensitive payment infrastructure configurations and customer personally identifiable information (PII) stored within Stripe profiles. The ability to perform unintended operations also facilitates data exfiltration scenarios where an attacker could enumerate existing customers or transaction histories that should remain restricted to finance teams or system administrators only.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate version upgrades as the primary remediation step. Organizations running affected versions of Payload CMS with the plugin-stripe extension are strongly advised to upgrade to version 3.90.0 for stable releases or 4.0.0-canary.34 and later for canary builds, where these authorization checks have been properly implemented by the maintainers. In scenarios where immediate upgrading is not feasible due to dependency constraints or testing requirements, temporary mitigations should include restricting network-level access to the Payload CMS instance if it is exposed externally, ensuring that only trusted IP ranges can reach the admin interface. Additionally, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules tailored to detect anomalous API calls related to Stripe endpoints may provide an additional layer of defense by blocking requests from non-administrative user agents or detecting patterns consistent with automated exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on role-based access controls are essential to ensure that future integrations do not reintroduce similar authorization gaps, reinforcing the principle of least privilege across all authenticated interactions within the CMS ecosystem.