CVE-2026-108703 in CordysCRM
Summary
by MITRE • 10/11/2026
CordysCRM through 1.9.3 contains a missing authorization vulnerability in POST /approval-resource/push that allows authenticated users to submit any resource for approval without ownership checks. Low-privileged attackers can supply arbitrary resourceId values for contracts, invoices, quotations or orders to alter their approval status and read approval details.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the CordysCRM application suite, specifically affecting versions up through 1.9.3, and centers on a critical failure in access control mechanisms at the server-side endpoint POST /approval-resource/push. This vulnerability is classified as an insecure direct object reference or broken access control issue, where the application fails to verify that the authenticated user initiating the request actually owns or has administrative privileges over the specific resource identified by the provided resourceId parameter. In a properly secured system, any operation modifying the state of a business entity such as a contract, invoice, quotation, or order must strictly validate that the requester possesses the necessary permissions relative to that specific object's ownership and role-based access controls. The absence of these checks allows an attacker who has obtained valid credentials for even a low-privileged user account to bypass intended restrictions entirely.
From a technical perspective, the exploitation vector involves sending HTTP POST requests to the /approval-resource/push endpoint with manipulated payload data containing arbitrary resourceId values corresponding to resources owned by other users or entities within the system. Because the backend logic does not cross-reference the authenticated session's identity against the ownership metadata of the target resource, it processes the approval request as if it were legitimate and authorized. This lack of server-side authorization enforcement means that the application trusts client-supplied identifiers without validating their legitimacy in the context of the current user's permissions. Consequently, an attacker can force resources into approved states regardless of whether they should be pending rejection or under review by different stakeholders, effectively subverting the workflow integrity designed to prevent unauthorized changes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on CordysCRM for managing sensitive business transactions and financial records. By altering approval statuses without authorization, attackers can manipulate contracts to appear approved when they are not, potentially leading to binding agreements being executed prematurely or incorrectly. Similarly, modifying the status of invoices, quotations, or orders can disrupt supply chain operations, cause financial discrepancies, or facilitate fraud by allowing unauthorized parties to finalize transactions that require multi-step verification processes. Furthermore, since the vulnerability also permits reading approval details, it enables information disclosure where sensitive business data associated with these resources becomes accessible to users who should not have visibility into them, thereby violating confidentiality requirements and potentially exposing proprietary strategies or client information.
This type of flaw aligns closely with CWE-284 Improper Access Control, specifically the sub-category involving insufficient authorization checks for critical functions. In terms of offensive security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this behavior maps to T1078 Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate credentials to perform unauthorized actions due to flawed application logic rather than credential theft or privilege escalation exploits. The attack path is straightforward and does not require complex exploitation techniques beyond crafting specific HTTP requests with modified parameters, making it highly exploitable by automated tools once the vulnerability surface is identified.
To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation efforts should focus on implementing robust server-side authorization checks within the POST /approval-resource/push handler logic. Developers must ensure that every request to modify resource states includes a verification step confirming that the authenticated user has explicit permission to act upon the specific resourceId provided in the payload. This can be achieved by querying the database or identity management system to validate ownership and role-based access rights before processing any approval actions. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege across all API endpoints ensures that users only have access to resources directly relevant to their job functions. Regular security code reviews focusing on object-level permissions and automated testing using dynamic application security scanning tools can help detect similar authorization bypasses in other parts of the CRM system. Upgrading to a patched version released by Cordys after 1.9.3, if available with these fixes applied, is also recommended as part of a comprehensive vulnerability management strategy.