CVE-2026-61663 in django CMS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2026
django CMS is an easy-to-use and developer-friendly enterprise content management system powered by Django. Prior to 5.0.9, render_object_structure fails to authorize non-PageContent objects that use PlaceholderRelationField. An active staff user without cms.use_structure or model-level view or change permission can request the //admin/cms/placeholder/object/<content_type_id>/structure/<object_id>/ endpoint with guessed content_type_id and object_id values. The response discloses placeholder slot names, plugin trees, plugin identifiers, labels, and object existence for frontend-editable objects. The fix applies user_can_view_placeholder_source to the non-PageContent branch while keeping the structure board read-only for view-only users. This issue is fixed in versions 5.0.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
django CMS version 5.0.8 and earlier contain a critical authorization bypass vulnerability within the render_object_structure function, which fails to properly enforce access controls on non-PageContent objects that utilize PlaceholderRelationField. This architectural flaw allows authenticated staff users who lack specific cms.use_structure permissions or model-level view and change privileges to exploit the administrative endpoint at //admin/cms/placeholder/object//structure// by supplying guessed content_type_id and object_id values. The vulnerability stems from an incomplete implementation of security checks in the code path handling these specific relational fields, creating a gap where the system assumes authorization based on general staff status rather than verifying granular permissions for the targeted resource instance.
The operational impact of this flaw is significant information disclosure that can facilitate further attacks against the content management infrastructure. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can retrieve detailed structural data about frontend-editable objects without proper authorization. The response payload exposes placeholder slot names, complete plugin trees, specific plugin identifiers, human-readable labels, and confirms the existence of various object instances within the system. This level of visibility into the internal structure provides adversaries with a comprehensive map of the application's content architecture, potentially revealing sensitive business logic or configuration details that should remain restricted to authorized administrators only.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-200 Information Exposure. The failure to verify permissions before processing requests for specific object structures represents a classic access control violation where the system does not adequately restrict resource access based on user identity or role. In terms of offensive security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this behavior corresponds to techniques involving Discovery through API enumeration and potential reconnaissance phases where attackers gather information about application structure to plan subsequent exploitation steps like privilege escalation or data exfiltration.
The resolution implemented in django CMS version 5.0.9 addresses the root cause by applying the user_can_view_placeholder_source check consistently across all branches, including those handling non-PageContent objects. This fix ensures that even users with view-only permissions are restricted to read-only access on the structure board and cannot retrieve sensitive structural data for resources they do not have explicit permission to view. To mitigate this risk in environments running affected versions, administrators should immediately upgrade to version 5.0.9 or later. For systems where an immediate upgrade is not feasible, implementing strict firewall rules to restrict access to the administrative interface only from trusted IP addresses and enforcing multi-factor authentication for all staff accounts can reduce the attack surface while a patching strategy is developed.