Craft CMS prior 4.17.0-beta.1/5.9.0-beta.1 GraphQL Directive Elements::parseRefs authorization

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Craft CMS. Affected by this vulnerability is the function Elements::parseRefs of the component GraphQL Directive Handler. The manipulation leads to authorization. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-28696. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Craft CMS and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function Elements::parseRefs of the component GraphQL Directive Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a authorization vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-639. The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

Craft is a content management system (CMS). Prior to 4.17.0-beta.1 and 5.9.0-beta.1, the GraphQL directive @parseRefs, intended to parse internal reference tags (e.g., {user:1:email}), can be abused by both authenticated users and unauthenticated guests (if a Public Schema is enabled) to access sensitive attributes of any element in the CMS. The implementation in Elements::parseRefs fails to perform authorization checks, allowing attackers to read data they are not authorized to view. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.17.0-beta.1 and 5.9.0-beta.1.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-28696 since 03/02/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 4.17.0-beta.1 or 5.9.0-beta.1 eliminates this vulnerability.

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Authorization
CWE: CWE-639 / CWE-285 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: CMS 4.17.0-beta.1/5.9.0-beta.1

Timelineinfo

03/02/2026 CVE reserved
03/04/2026 +2 days Advisory disclosed
03/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/06/2026 +2 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: github.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-28696 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-28696
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-348755

Entryinfo

Created: 03/04/2026 18:29
Updated: 03/06/2026 09:44
Changes: 03/04/2026 18:29 (67), 03/06/2026 09:44 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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