CVE-2026-42162 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2026
Mahara before 25.04.5 and 26.04.0 is vulnerable to artefacts being accessible to others under certain circumstances when the file path to an artefact in a page is manipulated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2026
The vulnerability identified in Mahara versions prior to 25.04.5 and version 26.04.0 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms, specifically categorized as Insecure Direct Object Reference or Broken Access Control within the context of file system operations. This flaw allows an authenticated user to potentially access artifacts belonging to other users by manipulating the file path associated with an artifact embedded within a page. The core technical issue stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input when resolving references to stored files, enabling attackers to traverse directory structures or bypass intended isolation boundaries between different user accounts and institutional contexts.
From a technical perspective, Mahara utilizes a structured approach for storing digital artifacts such as documents, images, and other media uploads. These assets are typically organized in directories based on user identifiers or group IDs to ensure logical separation of data. When an artifact is embedded into a page, the system generates a reference string that points to this location. The vulnerability arises because the application fails to adequately verify whether the requesting user has legitimate ownership or authorized permission for the specific file path being accessed. By altering parameters in the request URL or API calls, an attacker can substitute their own identifier with that of another victim, effectively tricking the server into serving content from a restricted directory. This behavior aligns directly with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-601 Open Redirect if the manipulation leads to unauthorized redirection, though it is primarily classified under path traversal or insecure direct object reference vulnerabilities depending on the exact implementation details of the file handling logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for institutions relying on Mahara as a learning management system or ePortfolio platform. Since educational platforms often contain sensitive personal information including student portfolios, academic records, and private communications, unauthorized access to these artifacts constitutes a serious data breach. An attacker could exfiltrate confidential documents, view private images, or gather intelligence that aids in further social engineering attacks against specific individuals within the institution. This undermines the fundamental trust model of the platform where users expect their uploaded content to remain private unless explicitly shared with designated recipients. The ability to access artifacts across different user boundaries suggests a systemic weakness in how session context and file permissions are correlated during request processing.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching as well as defensive coding practices for any custom integrations or plugins that may interact with the artifact system. Administrators should upgrade Mahara to version 25.04.5 or later, where these access control checks have been reinforced to ensure strict validation of file ownership before serving content. In addition to updating software, organizations should implement web application firewalls configured to detect and block requests exhibiting patterns consistent with path traversal or parameter manipulation attacks. It is also advisable to review server-level configurations to enforce least privilege principles on the underlying file system, ensuring that even if an application-layer bypass occurs, the operating system restricts access based on strict user permissions. Regular security audits focusing on authentication and authorization flows for media handling components will help identify similar weaknesses in other parts of the platform architecture.
This incident highlights the importance of rigorous input validation and context-aware permission checks in web applications dealing with file storage. The ATT&CK framework classifies such behaviors under techniques involving Collection via File Directory Discovery or T1083 File and Directory Discovery, indicating that attackers can leverage this flaw to map out sensitive data locations within a target environment. By addressing these vulnerabilities through both software updates and enhanced security monitoring, organizations can maintain the integrity of their educational platforms and protect user privacy against exploitation attempts targeting file access controls.