CVE-2026-16337Network attack vector

Authenticated RCE via unchecked role assignment chain

Published Jul 20, 2026 · Updated Jul 20, 2026

Improper authorization in dotCMS 21.02 through 26.06.22-03 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary OS commands. ToolGroupResource accepts non-admin layout assignment, and RoleAjax treats the acquired roles-portlet access as sufficient to grant the CMS Administrator role. Any authenticated backend account can complete the chain, after which a crafted OSGi bundle runs commands through its BundleActivator.

CVSS severity9.4
Critical
EPSS probability0.55%
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 dotCMS 21.02 through 26.06.22-03 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary OS commands. ToolGroupResource accepts non-admin layout assignment, and RoleAjax treats the acquired roles-portlet access as sufficient to grant the CMS Administrator role. Any authenticated backend account can complete the chain, after which a crafted OSGi bundle runs commands through its BundleActivator.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16337
Published
Jul 20, 2026
Updated
Jul 20, 2026
Vendor
dotCMS
Product
dotCMS
Classifications
CWE-269, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 20, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=21.02 <=26.06.22-03

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

dotCMS · dotCMSversion=21.02 <=26.06.22-03

Published CVSS scores

9.4dotCMS LLCCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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