CVE-2026-55228 in Weblate
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
Weblate is a web-based continuous localization platform used to manage software translations. In versions prior to 2026.7, the REST API did not properly enforce the scope of project- and workspace-scoped teams, allowing a user to submit invalid team configurations through the API. By assigning projects to a team via these unvalidated requests, a user could grant access to projects they were not authorized to see or manage. This could expose private projects and permit translation, repository, and project-management operations outside the user's intended permission scope. This issue is fixed in version 2026.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
Weblate serves as a critical web-based continuous localization platform designed to streamline the management of software translations for development teams. In versions preceding 2026.7, a significant security flaw existed within its REST API implementation regarding access control mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from an improper enforcement of scope boundaries associated with project- and workspace-scoped teams. Specifically, the application failed to adequately validate team configurations submitted through API requests, allowing users to manipulate these settings in ways that bypass intended authorization checks. This lack of input validation on server-side logic creates a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation within the localization management context.
The technical nature of this flaw is classified as an Insecure Direct Object Reference or Broken Access Control issue, aligning with CWE-284 and CWE-639 in standard vulnerability taxonomies. By exploiting the unvalidated API endpoints, an authenticated user could assign projects to teams without verifying whether they possessed the requisite administrative rights for those specific resources. This architectural weakness effectively neutralizes the isolation boundaries established by workspace-scoped team definitions. Consequently, users who should be restricted to a limited set of translation tasks or private project views were able to expand their access footprint arbitrarily through crafted API calls that the backend failed to reject due to missing scope validation logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations relying on Weblate for sensitive localization workflows. Attackers could expose private projects containing proprietary source code, intellectual property, or confidential business information by granting themselves or other unauthorized entities access rights. Beyond mere data exposure, the flaw permits translation, repository synchronization, and project-management operations that fall outside a user's intended permission scope. This means an attacker with low-level privileges could potentially alter translations for high-priority projects, inject malicious content into localization files, or disrupt development pipelines by modifying team structures without authorization. The integrity of the entire localization workflow is compromised when access controls are circumvented via API manipulation.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must immediately upgrade to Weblate version 2026.7 or later, where these validation checks have been implemented and enforced correctly. For environments that cannot update instantly due to dependency constraints, implementing a Web Application Firewall with rules targeting the specific REST API endpoints involved in team configuration can provide temporary protection by blocking malformed requests lacking proper scope parameters. Additionally, auditing existing user permissions and reviewing access logs for unusual patterns of project assignment or team modification is recommended to detect any potential exploitation that may have occurred prior to patching. Regular security assessments focusing on role-based access control enforcement are essential to ensure such gaps do not persist in other modules of the platform. This incident underscores the importance of rigorous server-side validation for all API-driven administrative actions, particularly those affecting resource ownership and team membership structures.