CVE-2026-55483 in Snipe-IT
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Snipe-IT is an IT asset/license management system. Prior to 8.6.0, an authenticated user with users.create permission can submit the admin permission while creating a user because store() in app/Http/Controllers/Users/UsersController.php strips superuser permission but does not strip admin permission. The created account can obtain administrative privileges. This issue is fixed in version 8.6.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified in Snipe-IT prior to version 8.6.0 represents a critical authorization bypass within the user management subsystem of this IT asset and license management platform. The core technical flaw resides in the store method located at app/Http/Controllers/Users/UsersController.php, which is responsible for processing new user creation requests. While the application logic correctly implements security controls to strip superuser permissions from accounts created by authenticated users possessing only the users.create permission, it fails to apply equivalent sanitization to admin-level privileges. This inconsistency in input validation and privilege assignment allows an attacker with limited initial access to escalate their role significantly during the account provisioning process.
From a technical perspective, this issue is classified as CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management. The vulnerability arises because the application assumes that stripping only the highest level of privilege (superuser) is sufficient for security when handling requests from lower-privileged users. However, by neglecting to filter out admin permissions, the system inadvertently grants elevated access rights to accounts that should be restricted to standard operational roles. This oversight creates a direct path for privilege escalation, where an authenticated user can manipulate form inputs or API payloads to include administrative flags in their profile data during creation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for lateral movement and full system compromise. An attacker who gains access with basic credentials could create a new account that possesses admin privileges without needing additional exploitation steps beyond the initial authentication. Once such an account exists, the attacker can leverage administrative capabilities to modify asset records, export sensitive license data, alter user configurations, or potentially execute further attacks depending on the integration points of Snipe-IT with other enterprise systems. This undermines the principle of least privilege and compromises the integrity of the entire IT asset management infrastructure.
In terms of industry frameworks, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, specifically in the context of persistence or escalation through legitimate credentials. The attacker utilizes valid authentication to establish a foothold and then exploits misconfiguration in privilege assignment to gain higher-level access. This scenario highlights the importance of rigorous validation not just for external inputs but also for internal role assignments within administrative interfaces.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running versions prior to 8.6.0 must upgrade immediately to version 8.6.0 or later, where the developers have corrected the logic in the UsersController.php file to properly strip all elevated permissions including admin rights from users created by non-administrative accounts. Until the update is applied, administrators should monitor user creation logs for anomalies and restrict the users.create permission to only those individuals who absolutely require it. Additionally implementing multi-factor authentication adds a layer of defense against unauthorized access attempts that might precede such exploitation. Regular audits of role assignments and permissions are recommended to ensure no residual administrative accounts exist with inappropriate privilege levels resulting from previous instances of this flaw.