CVE-2026-25233 in pearweb
Summary
by MITRE • 02/03/2026
PEAR is a framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components. Prior to version 1.33.0, logic bug in the roadmap role check allows non-lead maintainers to create, update, or delete roadmaps. This issue has been patched in version 1.33.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-25233 affects the PEAR PHP framework and distribution system, specifically targeting the access control mechanisms within the roadmap role management functionality. This security flaw represents a logic bug that undermines the intended privilege separation between lead maintainers and regular contributors, creating a significant access control weakness in the component management system. The issue exists in versions prior to 1.33.0 and allows unauthorized users to manipulate roadmap data despite lacking proper administrative privileges.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in the role validation process where the system does not properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary lead maintainer credentials before permitting roadmap operations. This logic error enables non-lead maintainers to execute create, update, and delete actions on roadmaps, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks within the roadmap management module, where the system should have enforced role-based access controls but instead permitted broader access than intended. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, specifically involving insufficient access control checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation capabilities, as it potentially allows malicious actors or unauthorized contributors to alter project roadmaps and development priorities. This could lead to disruption of project planning, misdirection of development efforts, or even the introduction of malicious roadmap entries that could affect downstream users and developers relying on the PEAR framework. The vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where multiple developers contribute to PHP component projects, as it undermines the trust model that should exist between different contributor roles. Attackers could exploit this weakness to manipulate project timelines, introduce false development goals, or disrupt the normal workflow of project maintainers who rely on accurate roadmap information.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate deployment of PEAR version 1.33.0 or later, which includes the necessary patches to fix the authorization logic bug. Organizations should also conduct thorough security reviews of their PEAR installations to ensure no unauthorized modifications have occurred, particularly focusing on roadmap data integrity. Security teams should implement monitoring for unauthorized roadmap modifications and establish proper access control auditing to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the core authorization flaw by implementing proper role validation checks that ensure only lead maintainers can perform roadmap operations, aligning with the principle of least privilege as recommended in cybersecurity frameworks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in collaborative software development platforms and highlights the potential for seemingly minor logic bugs to create significant security risks in component management systems.