CVE-2026-117532 in Redaxo
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2026
REDAXO core from 5.3.0 before 5.21.4 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the structure/history plugin that allows unauthenticated attackers to forge temporary login tokens. Attackers can force the session-tied secret into a predictable state and forge tokens for accounts like admin, gaining backend access and code execution outside live mode.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The REDAXO content management system, specifically versions ranging from 5.3.0 up to but not including 5.21.4, suffers from a critical authentication bypass vulnerability within its structure/history plugin. This flaw stems from an improper implementation of session-based security mechanisms that govern the generation and validation of temporary login tokens. The core issue lies in the system's failure to adequately randomize or sufficiently entropy-seed the secret values used during token creation processes. Instead of relying on cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generators with high-entropy seeds, the application allows attackers to manipulate or predict the internal state of the session-tied secrets. This weakness enables malicious actors to force the underlying cryptographic state into a predictable configuration, effectively neutralizing the security guarantees provided by the authentication framework.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature and CWE-330: Use of Insufficiently Random Values. The attacker exploits the deterministic nature of the flawed random number generation to reverse-engineer or predict the temporary login tokens required for backend access. By manipulating session parameters, an adversary can generate valid authentication tokens without possessing legitimate credentials. This bypasses standard multi-factor checks and password verification routines that are typically enforced by the CMS architecture. Consequently, the integrity of the administrative interface is compromised because the system accepts forged tokens as authentic, treating them with the same trust level as legitimately issued sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, granting unauthenticated attackers full control over the REDAXO backend environment. Once a valid token is forged for high-privilege accounts such as administrator, the attacker gains unrestricted access to all administrative functions. This includes the ability to modify site structure, manage user permissions, and upload malicious files or scripts. Crucially, the vulnerability allows code execution outside of live mode restrictions, which are typically designed to prevent direct manipulation of production environments during development or maintenance phases. An attacker can exploit this to inject web shells, deface websites, exfiltrate sensitive data stored within the CMS database, or use the compromised server as a pivot point for further network intrusions. The ability to execute arbitrary code significantly escalates the risk from simple unauthorized access to complete system compromise.
In alignment with MITRE ATT&CK frameworks, this vulnerability facilitates techniques associated with Initial Access and Privilege Escalation, specifically Credential Stuffing or Token Forgery (T1528) followed by Server Side Request Forgery or Remote Code Execution depending on the subsequent exploitation path. The lack of proper session entropy also relates to Session Management flaws often cited in OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities under Broken Access Control and Cryptographic Failures. To mitigate this risk, administrators must immediately upgrade REDAXO to version 5.21.4 or later where these cryptographic implementations have been corrected. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict input validation on all session-related parameters and ensure that any custom plugins adhere to secure coding standards regarding random number generation. Regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on authentication bypass vectors are recommended to detect similar weaknesses in other components of the application stack before they can be exploited by malicious actors seeking unauthorized administrative access.