CVE-2021-26594Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated administrator takeover via unchecked role update

Published Feb 23, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper authorization in Directus 8.x through 8.8.1 allows remote authenticated users to grant themselves the administrator role via PATCH. The user-update endpoint at /users/{ID} accepts an attacker-supplied role identifier without enforcing backend authorization. A limited-privilege account is required, and successful exploitation grants administrative control over the Directus instance.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authorization in Directus 8.x through 8.8.1 allows remote authenticated users to grant themselves the administrator role via PATCH. The user-update endpoint at /users/{ID} accepts an attacker-supplied role identifier without enforcing backend authorization. A limited-privilege account is required, and successful exploitation grants administrative control over the Directus instance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-26594
Published
Feb 23, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-269, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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