CVE-2026-47231 in Admidio
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
Admidio is an open-source user management solution. Prior to version 5.0.10, `modules/documents-files.php` gates state-changing modes by checking that the actor has `hasUploadRight()` on the URL parameter `folder_uuid`. The `move_save` handler then operates on a *separate* URL parameter `file_uuid` and calls `File::moveToFolder($destFolderUUID)`. `File::moveToFolder()` checks the upload right on the destination folder but never on the source folder containing the file. As a result, any user who can upload to any single folder can move any file from any other folder — including private folders to which they have no view rights — into a folder they control, and then download it. Confidentiality is broken (private file contents leak) and integrity is broken (the file is removed from the original location). Version 5.0.10 contains a fix.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
The vulnerability in Admidio versions prior to 5.0.10 represents a critical access control flaw that enables unauthorized file movement across folder boundaries. This issue stems from an improper privilege validation mechanism within the `modules/documents-files.php` module where state-changing operations are gated by checking upload rights on the destination folder through the `hasUploadRight()` function. However, the implementation fails to validate whether the actor possesses adequate permissions on the source folder containing the file being moved. The flaw exists specifically in the `move_save` handler which processes a separate `file_uuid` parameter without performing source folder validation before executing the `File::moveToFolder($destFolderUUID)` operation.
The technical execution of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic privilege escalation pattern where the system's authorization model is bypassed through insufficient access control checks. When a user invokes the move operation, the system correctly validates their ability to upload files into the target destination folder but completely omits verification of their rights to access or manipulate the source folder from which the file originates. This creates a scenario where any authenticated user with upload privileges in a single folder can effectively perform unauthorized file operations across the entire system. The `File::moveToFolder()` method only validates destination folder permissions, leaving the source folder validation entirely absent, which constitutes a fundamental security oversight.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to encompass both confidentiality and integrity violations within the application's file management system. Confidentiality is compromised when private files can be moved from restricted folders into publicly accessible locations that the user controls, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive content. The integrity aspect suffers because files are removed from their original storage locations without proper authorization, potentially disrupting data organization and creating audit trail inconsistencies. This vulnerability essentially allows malicious actors to bypass folder-level access controls and perform unauthorized file operations across the entire document repository.
This security flaw aligns with common software vulnerabilities classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a privilege escalation issue that could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) when exploited by users with minimal privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and authorization checking practices, where the system assumes that if a user can upload to a destination folder, they should automatically have permission to move files from any source folder. The fix implemented in version 5.0.10 addresses this by ensuring proper validation of both source and destination folder permissions during file movement operations, aligning with security best practices for multi-tenant applications where access control must be enforced at all levels of the system.
Organizations utilizing Admidio should immediately implement the 5.0.10 update to remediate this vulnerability, as it represents a significant risk to data security and compliance requirements. The fix ensures that proper authorization checks are performed on both source and destination folders before any file movement operations can proceed, thereby maintaining the integrity of the application's access control mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should review existing file permissions and audit logs to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to the patch deployment, ensuring comprehensive security posture maintenance across all user management systems.