CVE-2026-25859 in WeKan
Summary
by MITRE • 02/08/2026
Wekan versions prior to 8.20 allow non-administrative users to access migration functionality due to insufficient permission checks, potentially resulting in unauthorized migration operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-25859 affects Wekan versions before 8.20 and represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the application's security model. This issue stems from inadequate permission validation mechanisms within the migration functionality, allowing unauthorized users to execute operations that should be restricted to administrative personnel only. The flaw exists in the application's authorization framework where proper role-based access controls fail to validate user privileges before permitting migration actions. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and could enable malicious actors with non-administrative accounts to manipulate the system's data migration processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the migration component of Wekan, which typically handles data import, export, and database schema updates, making it a potentially dangerous entry point for unauthorized system modifications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's security architecture where permission checks are either missing or insufficiently enforced during migration operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting requests that bypass normal access controls, potentially leading to unauthorized data manipulation or system state changes. The flaw likely resides in the backend validation logic that determines whether a user can initiate migration processes, where the system fails to properly verify administrative privileges before executing sensitive operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 related to valid accounts and privilege escalation. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as migration operations often involve database modifications, data integrity concerns, and potential exposure of sensitive information through data movement processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Wekan for project management and collaboration. Non-administrative users gaining access to migration functionality could potentially corrupt data, manipulate workflows, or even exfiltrate sensitive information through data export operations. The unauthorized execution of migration processes might lead to system instability, data loss, or service disruption, particularly if malicious actors attempt to perform destructive operations. Organizations may face compliance violations if sensitive data is exposed or modified through unauthorized migration activities, especially in regulated environments where audit trails and access controls are mandatory. The vulnerability's exploitation could also facilitate further attacks by providing attackers with additional system access or information that could be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks. Given that Wekan is commonly used in collaborative environments where multiple users may have varying levels of access, this flaw creates a substantial risk for organizations that do not maintain strict access controls.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to Wekan version 8.20 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper permission validation. Administrators should review existing user roles and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to migration functions within their Wekan installations. Network-level controls can be implemented to restrict access to migration endpoints, while logging and monitoring should be enhanced to detect any unauthorized attempts to access migration functionality. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of user permissions and access controls to identify any potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix implemented in version 8.20 likely includes enhanced authorization checks that validate user privileges before permitting migration operations, addressing the core issue of insufficient permission validation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regular security assessments to identify similar authorization flaws in their software environments. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and the critical need for robust access control mechanisms in collaborative applications where users may have varying levels of system privileges.