CVE-2026-57205 in SimpleChat
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2026
SimpleChat is a secure AI conversation application with personal and group workspaces for document-grounded interactions. Prior to 0.241.203, the authenticated GET /api/user/info/<user_id> and GET /api/user/profile-image/<user_id> endpoints in application/single_app/route_backend_users.py accepted a caller-supplied user_id and read the matching Cosmos DB user-settings document without object-level authorization, allowing a low-privilege authenticated user to retrieve another user's email address, display name, and profile image. This issue is fixed in version 0.241.203.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical access control flaw in the SimpleChat application's backend API endpoints, specifically affecting versions prior to 0.241.203. This issue stems from inadequate authorization checks within the user information retrieval functionality, creating a path for privilege escalation through unauthorized data exposure. The affected endpoints GET /api/user/info/<user_id> and GET /api/user/profile-image/<user_id> demonstrate a fundamental failure in implementing proper object-level security controls when processing user identifiers supplied by API callers.
The technical implementation flaw involves the application's handling of user_id parameters within the route_backend_users.py file, where the system accepts arbitrary user identifiers without verifying whether the authenticated requesting user has legitimate access rights to retrieve information about the specified target user. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.1.1 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing as attackers could exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about other users within the system. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient access control where the application fails to enforce mandatory access controls based on user roles and permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables unauthorized users to obtain sensitive personal information including email addresses, display names, and profile images from other system participants. This data exposure creates potential risks for social engineering attacks, credential stuffing attempts, and targeted phishing campaigns that could leverage the gathered information for further compromise. The vulnerability affects both individual user privacy and group workspace security, particularly in document-grounded interactions where user identity correlation becomes more significant for maintaining confidentiality. Attackers could systematically enumerate users within the system to build comprehensive profiles of participants, undermining the application's security posture for personal and collaborative workspaces.
The remediation implemented in version 0.241.203 addresses this vulnerability through proper object-level authorization checks that validate whether authenticated users possess appropriate permissions to access specific user information. This fix aligns with security best practices recommended by NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards, which emphasize the importance of implementing proper access controls and authorization mechanisms for all data retrieval operations. Organizations should ensure that similar vulnerabilities are addressed through comprehensive code reviews, security testing, and implementation of principle of least privilege access controls. The fix demonstrates the critical need for thorough authorization validation in multi-user applications where user data privacy and security are paramount considerations in maintaining system integrity and protecting user information assets.