CVE-2026-14504 in Nexus Repository
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
An authorization bypass in Nexus Repository 3's component upload API allowed a user with only read/browse privileges on a Swift, Terraform, or Conda hosted repository to upload arbitrary artifacts, bypassing the intended write-permission check.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw in Sonatype Nexus Repository 3 that undermines the fundamental security model of artifact management systems. The issue specifically affects repositories hosting Swift, Terraform, and Conda components where the component upload API fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing artifact uploads. This authorization bypass occurs when users with only read/browse privileges attempt to upload artifacts through the API endpoints designated for these repository types. The flaw stems from insufficient access control validation within the API layer that processes component uploads, allowing unauthorized users to circumvent the intended permission boundaries that should restrict write operations to authorized personnel only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the repository's permission checking mechanism during the artifact upload process. When a user attempts to upload components through the affected API endpoints, the system should verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary write permissions for the target repository type. However, the validation logic contains a gap where read-only users can successfully pass the authorization check and proceed with uploading arbitrary artifacts. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization controls that violates the principle of least privilege and allows for privilege escalation through API manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized artifact uploads, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and security posture of repository environments. Attackers could leverage this flaw to introduce malicious components into repositories that are typically restricted to authorized personnel only, potentially leading to supply chain attacks or code injection scenarios. The affected repository types - Swift, Terraform, and Conda - are commonly used in development workflows where artifacts represent critical dependencies for applications and infrastructure provisioning tools. This vulnerability enables attackers to bypass the security controls that normally protect these repositories from unauthorized modifications, creating potential pathways for persistent threats within development environments.
Organizations using Nexus Repository 3 must consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling and security posture assessments, particularly when these repository types are used in production or development workflows. The issue affects not only the immediate security of artifact repositories but also impacts the broader software supply chain security model that organizations depend upon for protecting against malicious code injection. From an industry standards perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected Nexus Repository 3 versions, implementation of additional monitoring for unauthorized upload activities, and review of existing repository permissions to ensure proper segregation of duties. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls that restrict access to the vulnerable API endpoints and establish automated alerts for unusual upload patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive testing of authorization mechanisms during security assessments and emphasizes the need for regular security reviews of API endpoint access controls to prevent similar issues from emerging in other software components.