CVE-2026-51895 in Ragflow
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2026
Ragflow 0.24.0 and prior contains improper access control in update_metadata_setting (api/apps/kb_app.py). Depending on the exposed entry, an attacker can perform unauthorized cross-session or privilege-crossing operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2026
The vulnerability identified in RagFlow versions 0.24.0 and earlier represents a critical failure in server-side access control mechanisms within the application's knowledge base management module. Specifically, the flaw resides in the update_metadata_setting endpoint located at api/apps/kb_app.py. This function is designed to modify metadata configurations for documents or collections stored within the system. However, due to insufficient validation of user permissions and session context during the execution of this API call, the application fails to enforce proper isolation between different users and their respective data sets. This architectural weakness allows an authenticated attacker who has access to a lower-privilege account to manipulate settings intended for higher-privileged accounts or other distinct sessions. The core technical issue is a lack of robust authorization checks that verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary rights to modify metadata associated with specific resources, particularly when those resources are linked to different organizational units or users within the platform.
From an operational perspective, this improper access control vulnerability enables unauthorized cross-session and privilege-crossing operations. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious HTTP requests that target the update_metadata_setting endpoint while impersonating a higher-privileged user or accessing data belonging to another tenant in multi-tenant deployments. This capability undermines the fundamental security principles of confidentiality and integrity within the knowledge base system. By altering metadata settings, an adversary could potentially disrupt service availability for other users, inject misleading information into document collections, or escalate their own privileges by modifying access control lists associated with sensitive datasets. In environments where RagFlow is used to manage proprietary intellectual property or regulated data, such unauthorized modifications can lead to significant business disruption and compliance violations. The ability to cross session boundaries means that the isolation guarantees provided by the application's authentication layer are effectively bypassed at the authorization logic level, rendering standard role-based access controls ineffective against targeted exploitation of this specific endpoint.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which classifies Improper Privilege Management, and more specifically relates to CWE-862, Missing Authorization checks where the software does not perform sufficient permission verification before allowing actions that affect system resources. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this behavior is consistent with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as it relies on legitimate credentials being used in an unauthorized manner to achieve lateral movement or privilege escalation within the application's logical boundary. The exploitation typically involves intercepting API traffic and modifying parameters related to metadata updates while ensuring the session token corresponds to a different user identity than the one intended for the target resource. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous because it does not require remote code execution capabilities but instead abuses the trusted relationship between the client and server regarding data ownership and modification rights.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate patching to version 0.24.1 or later is strongly recommended as these versions include fixes for the authorization logic in kb_app.py. For organizations unable to upgrade immediately, implementing a Web Application Firewall rule that restricts access to the api/apps/kb_app.py endpoint based on strict IP whitelisting can provide a temporary layer of defense. Additionally, developers should conduct a thorough audit of all API endpoints handling sensitive configuration changes to ensure they implement robust server-side authorization checks that validate both user identity and resource ownership before processing any update requests. It is also advisable to enable comprehensive logging for metadata modification events to facilitate rapid detection of anomalous cross-session activities. Regular penetration testing focused on broken access control scenarios will help identify similar weaknesses in other parts of the application architecture, ensuring a more resilient security posture against privilege escalation attacks.