CVE-2026-111352 in ThinkCMF
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2026
ThinkCMF through 8.0.1 contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability in RestAdminBaseController that allows restricted backend administrators to call every admin REST API endpoint because Auth::check() fails open when no admin_api rule exists. Attackers with a valid admin-type API token can list member emails and mobile numbers, disable members, and call PUT admin/roles/{id}/authorize to grant themselves full administrator rights.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2026
The vulnerability identified in ThinkCMF versions up through 8.0.1 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within the RestAdminBaseController class. This flaw stems from an incorrect authorization logic that permits restricted backend administrators to execute any admin REST API endpoint, effectively bypassing intended permission restrictions. The root cause lies in how the framework handles authentication checks for administrative actions. Specifically, when the Auth::check() method is invoked without a specific admin_api rule defined or matched, it fails open rather than denying access by default. This design choice creates a significant security gap where the absence of an explicit allow-listed rule results in implicit permission grants, violating the principle of least privilege and secure defaults that are fundamental to robust application architecture.
From a technical perspective, this flaw allows attackers possessing a valid admin-type API token to escalate their privileges or perform unauthorized actions across the entire administrative interface. Because the authorization check does not strictly enforce role-based access control for endpoints lacking specific rules, any authenticated user with an admin token can interact with these unprotected routes. This includes sensitive operations such as listing member emails and mobile numbers, which constitutes a severe privacy violation and potential data breach under regulations like GDPR or CCPA. Furthermore, attackers can disable legitimate members, disrupting service availability and potentially locking out other administrators from managing the platform.
The most dangerous aspect of this vulnerability is the ability to grant oneself full administrator rights via the PUT admin/roles/{id}/authorize endpoint. By exploiting this unrestricted access, an attacker with even minimal initial privileges can modify role assignments to elevate their status to that of a super-administrator. This privilege escalation effectively gives the attacker complete control over the application backend, allowing them to manipulate data, install malicious plugins or themes, and potentially compromise the underlying server infrastructure if further vulnerabilities exist in those components. The impact extends beyond immediate account takeover, as it undermines the integrity and confidentiality of all user data managed by the ThinkCMF instance.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 Improper Authorization, specifically illustrating a scenario where access control decisions are not properly enforced due to flawed logic implementation. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this behavior corresponds to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as the attacker leverages legitimate credentials to gain unauthorized access, and potentially T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation when modifying role authorizations to increase their own permissions level. The failure occurs at the application layer during request processing, where the framework's internal routing or middleware does not adequately validate that the current user has explicit permission for the targeted action before allowing execution.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate patching to a version of ThinkCMF later than 8.0.1 is required, as these updates typically include fixes for access control logic in the RestAdminBaseController and related authentication modules. Administrators should also implement strict input validation and ensure that all administrative endpoints are explicitly covered by authorization rules rather than relying on implicit permissions. Additionally, adopting a default-deny security model where any request not matching an explicit allow rule is automatically rejected can prevent similar flaws from occurring in custom or third-party extensions. Regular security audits focusing on role-based access control configurations and API endpoint protections are recommended to maintain the integrity of administrative functions within ThinkCMF deployments.