Users with ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN can create new users in Opencast
Impact
Users with the role ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN can use the user-utils endpoint to create new users not including the role ROLE_ADMIN. For example:
# Use the admin to create a new user with ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN using the admin user.
# We expect this to work.
% curl -i -u admin:opencast 'https://example.opencast.org/user-utils/xy.json' -X PUT \
--data 'password=f&roles=%5B%22ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN%22%5D'
HTTP/2 201
# Use the new user to create more new users.
# We don't expüect a user with just role ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN to succeed.
# But it does work
% curl -i -u xy:f 'https://example.opencast.org/user-utils/ab.json' -X PUT \
--data 'password=f&roles=%5B%22ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN%22%5D'
HTTP/2 201ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN is a non-standard role in Opencast which is referenced neither in the documentation nor in any code (except for tests) but only in the security configuration. From the name – implying an admin for a specific course – users would never expect that this role allows user creation.
Patches
This issue is fixed in 7.6 and 8.1 which both ship a new default security configuration.
Workarounds
You can fix this issue by removing all instances of ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN in your organization's security configuration (etc/security/mh_default_org.xml by default).
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in opencast/opencast
- For security-relevant information, email us at security@opencast.org
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel | < 7.6, >= 8.0, < 8.1 | 7.6, 8.1 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-285- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel- Disclosed
- 30.01.2020
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-94qw-r73x-j7hg - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 7
- First → latest
- 01.2020 07.2025
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 2
- Medium 4
Disclosures per year
- 2020: 4
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 0
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