CVE-2026-25040 in budibase
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2026
Budibase is a low code platform for creating internal tools, workflows, and admin panels. In versions up to and including 3.26.3, a Creator-level user, who normally has no UI permission to invite users, can manipulate API requests to invite new users with any role, including Admin, Creator, or App Viewer, and assign them to any group in the organization. This allows full privilege escalation, bypassing UI restrictions, and can lead to complete takeover of the workspace or organization. As of time of publication, no known fixed versions are available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2026
This vulnerability exists within Budibase's access control mechanisms, specifically targeting the platform's user invitation functionality. The flaw represents a critical authorization bypass that allows users with Creator-level permissions to escalate their privileges through direct API manipulation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the user invitation endpoint, where the system fails to properly verify the requesting user's permissions before processing invitation requests. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software applications. The issue is particularly concerning because it directly violates the principle of least privilege, allowing low-privilege users to grant administrative capabilities to themselves or others without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables a malicious Creator-level user to construct specially crafted API requests that bypass the standard user interface restrictions designed to prevent user invitation. Through careful manipulation of API parameters, attackers can specify arbitrary user roles including administrator privileges and assign users to specific organizational groups. This capability represents a complete breakdown in the platform's permission model, where the UI-based access controls are circumvented through direct API interaction. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure direct object reference, where the system fails to validate that the requesting user has sufficient privileges to perform the requested action. The absence of proper session validation and role verification in the API layer creates an exploitable gap that allows for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for organizations using affected Budibase versions. An attacker with Creator-level access can essentially take complete control of the workspace by inviting themselves or others with administrator privileges, thereby gaining access to all organizational data, configuration settings, and user management capabilities. This allows for data exfiltration, system manipulation, and potential lateral movement within the organization's digital infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or specialized attack tools, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have Creator-level access. The lack of available fixed versions at the time of publication means that organizations cannot simply apply patches, forcing them to implement workarounds or alternative security measures.
Organizations should immediately implement compensating controls to mitigate this risk, including network-level restrictions on API endpoints and enhanced monitoring of user invitation activities. The recommended approach involves implementing API rate limiting and logging mechanisms to detect anomalous invitation patterns, combined with regular security audits of user permissions and access logs. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication factors for API access and establishing stricter role-based access controls. This vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing, particularly around user management and privilege escalation scenarios. The issue also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, demonstrating how insecure API implementations can provide attackers with legitimate access paths to escalate their privileges within applications. Organizations should conduct immediate risk assessments and consider temporary workarounds such as disabling user invitation functionality until a patched version becomes available.