Craft CMS: Authorization bypass in `entries/move-to-section` via missing target-section save check
Summary
The EntriesController::actionMoveToSection() endpoint checks only whether the current user can view the destination section, but it does not require permission to save entries into that section. A low-privileged authenticated control-panel user who can move an entry out of its current section can therefore move that entry into a different section where they have read access but no write access.
Details
The vulnerable route is implemented in EntriesController.php:465:
The destination check is only viewEntries:$section->uid . The source-entry gate is Entry::canMove(), which verifies whether the user can move the existing entry based on the source section:
This closes the exploit chain:
- External source: authenticated CP request to
entries/move-to-section. - Missing authorization check: destination section requires only
viewEntries, notsaveEntries. - Privileged sink:
moveEntryToSection()rewritessectionIdand saves the entry into the unauthorized section.
Preconditions derived from the code:
- The attacker is authenticated to the control panel.
- Entry
345is movable by the attacker from its current section. - The attacker can satisfy
viewEntrieson destination section12. - The attacker does not have
saveEntries:DESTINATION_UID, which is the missing check that makes the bypass possible.
Result:
- The controller accepts the request because
viewEntries:$section->uidpasses. - Each source entry passes
canMove()based on source-section permissions. moveEntryToSection()updates the entry’ssectionIdand saves it.- The entry is now located in a section where the attacker did not have write permission.
Impact
This breaks the intended section-level authorization model. A user with limited content permissions can inject or relocate content into a protected section, interfering with editorial boundaries, approval workflows, section-specific business logic, and content ownership expectations.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composer package | craftcms/cms | >= 5.0.0-RC1, < 5.9.21 | 5.9.21 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-284- Platform
- Composer
- Package
craftcms/cms- Disclosed
- 02.07.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-43cq-c2gq-pfpw - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: craftcms/cms
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Composer package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 127
- First → latest
- 07.2021 08.2026
- Without a fix
- 6
- Exploited in attacks
- 4
Severity breakdown
- Critical 9
- High 41
- Medium 65
- Low 12
Disclosures per year
- 2021: 3
- 2022: 22
- 2023: 13
- 2024: 9
- 2025: 6
- 2026: 74
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Craft CMS: Authorization bypass in `entries/move-to-section` via missing target-section save check this entry
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