CVE-2026-92586 in AVideo
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2026
AVideo through 29.0 (commit c3edcc274c389816d434acadac07ee78eaf330c1) fails to verify video access permissions in the set_api_comment function, allowing authenticated users to post comments on password-protected and group-restricted videos. Attackers can submit POST requests to the comment API endpoint with arbitrary video IDs to write comments on videos they cannot watch.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2026
The vulnerability identified in AVideo versions up to 29.0 represents a critical failure in access control logic within the application's backend architecture, specifically residing in the set_api_comment function. This flaw stems from an insufficient verification of video ownership and permission states before processing user input. In secure web applications, any operation that modifies data associated with a specific resource must first validate that the requesting authenticated user possesses the necessary privileges to interact with that particular instance of the resource. However, in this implementation, the system relies on the presence of valid authentication credentials rather than verifying whether those credentials grant access rights to the target video ID provided in the request payload. This architectural oversight allows any logged-in user to bypass restrictions designed for password-protected content or group-restricted media by directly interacting with the API endpoint responsible for comment submission.
From a technical perspective, the exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting specific HTTP POST requests directed at the comment API endpoint. The attacker supplies an arbitrary video ID within the request body, effectively decoupling the action from the user's actual viewing permissions. Because the backend logic does not cross-reference the provided video ID against the access control lists or password hashes associated with that video before accepting the write operation, the system treats the request as valid if the authentication token is present and unexpired. This behavior constitutes a classic Broken Access Control issue where the server fails to enforce proper authorization checks on API endpoints, allowing unauthorized data modification despite the user being authenticated for other parts of the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple spam or nuisance posting. By enabling comments on password-protected videos, attackers can inject malicious content, phishing links, or defamatory material into areas intended to be private and secure. For group-restricted videos, which often contain sensitive organizational information or exclusive community discussions, the breach compromises confidentiality and integrity. The presence of unauthorized comments undermines trust in the platform's security model and may lead to data leakage if the comment content itself contains sensitive details that were not meant for public consumption. Furthermore, this vulnerability can be leveraged as a stepping stone for further attacks, such as stored cross-site scripting (XSS), where malicious scripts embedded in the comments are executed by legitimate users who gain access to these restricted videos later.
This flaw aligns with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, and is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as it exploits existing authenticated sessions to perform unauthorized actions. To mitigate this risk, developers must implement strict server-side validation that verifies the requesting user's permissions against the specific resource being modified before processing any write operations. This involves querying the database or access control system to confirm that the video is not password-protected unless the correct credentials are provided in the same request context, and ensuring group restrictions are actively checked for every comment submission attempt. Additionally, implementing rate limiting on API endpoints can help mitigate automated abuse, while comprehensive logging of permission denials aids in monitoring and detecting potential exploitation attempts.