CVE-2026-23799 in Tutor LMS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Themeum Tutor LMS tutor allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Tutor LMS: from n/a through <= 3.9.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-23799 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Themeum Tutor LMS platform that undermines the fundamental access control mechanisms designed to protect sensitive educational content and administrative functions. This weakness manifests as an incorrectly configured access control security level that permits unauthorized users to exploit the system's permission model, potentially gaining access to restricted areas of the learning management system. The vulnerability specifically impacts Tutor LMS versions ranging from the initial release through version 3.9.5, indicating a prolonged period during which this security gap remained unaddressed. The issue resides in the platform's authorization framework where proper validation checks fail to adequately verify user permissions before granting access to protected resources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user roles and permissions within the Tutor LMS architecture. When users attempt to access specific administrative or content management functions, the system fails to properly authenticate and authorize their access requests based on their assigned roles. This misconfiguration allows users with lower privilege levels to potentially execute actions reserved for administrators or instructors, effectively undermining the role-based access control (RBAC) model that should govern user interactions within the learning management system. The flaw operates at the application layer where authentication tokens or session identifiers may not be properly validated against the system's access control policies, enabling attackers to manipulate access control parameters through various attack vectors including parameter manipulation or session hijacking techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, content manipulation, and disruption of educational services. An attacker exploiting this weakness could gain access to student records, course materials, grading information, and administrative controls that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. This unauthorized access capability presents significant risks to educational institutions as it could lead to academic dishonesty, data theft, or the complete compromise of learning management system operations. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that organizations using Tutor LMS within the affected range have been exposed to this risk for an extended period, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access or conduct reconnaissance activities without detection.
Organizations utilizing Tutor LMS within the affected version range should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of available patches or updates that address the authorization configuration issues. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive review and reconfiguration of access control policies to ensure proper implementation of role-based access control mechanisms. Security teams must conduct thorough access control assessments to identify and rectify any misconfigurations that may have been exploited, implementing principle of least privilege concepts where users only receive the minimum permissions necessary for their roles. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts and implement proper logging of access control events to facilitate incident response activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques.