CVE-2026-79665 in Ech0
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2026
Ech0 before 4.5.1 contains an authorization bypass vulnerability where session tokens skip scope validation in RequireScopes middleware, allowing logged-in non-admin users to access admin endpoints. Attackers can read system logs, visitor statistics, user emails, and subscribe to live WebSocket logs by sending authenticated session tokens to unprotected endpoints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the Ech0 content management system prior to version 4.5.1, specifically affecting its authentication middleware implementation. The core technical deficiency lies in the RequireScopes middleware component, which is designed to enforce role-based access control by validating session tokens against defined permission scopes. In this vulnerable configuration, the middleware fails to properly validate the scope attributes associated with authenticated user sessions before granting access to protected resources. This logic error effectively allows any validly authenticated session token, regardless of whether it belongs to an administrator or a standard end-user, to bypass administrative restrictions and interact with endpoints reserved for privileged accounts. The vulnerability stems from a failure in the authorization layer rather than authentication, meaning that while the user is correctly identified as logged-in, their elevated privileges are not properly checked against the requested resource requirements.
From an operational perspective, this authorization bypass presents severe risks to data confidentiality and system integrity. An attacker possessing valid credentials for a low-privilege account can exploit this flaw to access administrative interfaces without needing to escalate privileges through other means such as password guessing or session hijacking. The immediate impact includes the ability to read sensitive system logs which may contain internal network details, error traces, or configuration data that could aid in further attacks. Additionally, attackers gain unauthorized visibility into visitor statistics and user email addresses, leading to significant privacy violations and potential compliance issues with regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. Furthermore, the capability to subscribe to live WebSocket logs allows for real-time interception of dynamic content updates, potentially exposing sensitive operational metrics or internal communications that are not intended for public view.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-285 Improper Authorization, where a system fails to ensure that users have appropriate permissions for the actions they perform. It also maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as the exploitation relies on using legitimate credentials to gain unauthorized access to specific functions within the application architecture. The attack vector is classified under remote code execution or data exfiltration depending on the ultimate goal of the attacker, but fundamentally it represents a critical failure in role-based access control implementation.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate action must be taken by upgrading Ech0 to version 4.5.1 or later where these scope validation checks have been corrected. In environments where patching is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement compensating controls such as web application firewall rules that restrict access to administrative endpoints based on IP whitelisting if possible, although this is less effective for remote attacks. It is also critical to audit existing user accounts and revoke any suspicious sessions or tokens that may have been compromised during the window of vulnerability. Long-term remediation should involve a thorough review of all middleware components responsible for authorization checks to ensure they consistently validate scope requirements before processing requests, thereby preventing similar bypasses in other parts of the application logic.