CVE-2026-81158 in Entity API
Summary
by MITRE • 09/02/2026
Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in Drupal Entity API allows Forceful Browsing. This issue affects Entity API versions: from 0.0.0 to 1.8.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2026
The Drupal Entity API module, specifically within version ranges spanning from the initial release up through version 1.8.0, contains a critical access control flaw that permits unauthorized users to bypass intended permission checks. This vulnerability manifests as an incorrect authorization mechanism where the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges before granting access to specific entity operations or data structures. In practical terms, this allows for forceful browsing, enabling attackers to traverse and interact with administrative functions or sensitive content that should be restricted to authenticated users with elevated roles such as administrators or editors. The root cause lies in the module's handling of route definitions and permission hooks, where certain endpoints do not strictly enforce the configured access control lists against all potential entry points.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a classic case of broken object level authorization combined with insufficient verification of user permissions during request processing. When an attacker constructs specific HTTP requests targeting internal API routes or entity bundles that are protected by standard Drupal permission systems, the Entity API module incorrectly assumes access is granted based on incomplete checks. This oversight allows malicious actors to exploit these gaps to read, modify, or delete data they should not have access to. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which describes Improper Privilege Management, as well as CWE-862, Missing Authorization, highlighting the failure of the application to enforce security policies during runtime execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any Drupal site relying on the Entity API module within the affected version range. Attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges by accessing administrative interfaces without valid credentials or by exfiltrating sensitive user data and configuration settings. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application environment. Furthermore, because the vulnerability is tied to a widely used contrib module, it poses a risk to a large segment of the Drupal ecosystem, potentially affecting thousands of websites that have not yet applied patches or updated their dependencies. The ability to perform forceful browsing means that even if other security layers are in place, this specific pathway remains open for exploitation by automated tools and manual attackers alike.
To mitigate this vulnerability, site administrators must immediately upgrade the Entity API module to a version later than 1.8.0 where these authorization checks have been corrected. It is essential to verify that all contributed modules are up to date with their latest security releases provided by the Drupal community. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls configured to detect and block patterns associated with forceful browsing attempts, such as unusual URL traversal or unauthorized access to administrative paths. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authorization bypasses can help identify similar weaknesses in custom code or other modules that may not have received immediate patches. Monitoring server logs for suspicious activity related to entity endpoints will also aid in early detection of exploitation attempts while the upgrade process is being completed across the infrastructure.