CVE-2026-16764Network attack vector

Authenticated privilege escalation via unchecked is_staff update

Published Jul 23, 2026 · Updated Jul 23, 2026

Privilege escalation in OWASP DefectDojo 2.59.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain staff access through the API. UserSerializer accepts changes to the is_staff field without requiring the requesting account to be a superuser. An account with delegated auth.change_user permission can promote itself or another account, enabling Django admin access and broad authorization bypass.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in OWASP DefectDojo 2.59.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain staff access through the API. UserSerializer accepts changes to the is_staff field without requiring the requesting account to be a superuser. An account with delegated auth.change_user permission can promote itself or another account, enabling Django admin access and broad authorization bypass.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16764
Published
Jul 23, 2026
Updated
Jul 23, 2026
Vendor
OWASP ModSecurity
Product
DefectDojo
Classifications
CWE-269, CWE-266, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 23, 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=2.59.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OWASP ModSecurity · DefectDojoversion=2.59.0

Published CVSS scores

6.3VulDB CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
6.5VulDB CNAAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8DefectDojoCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.3VulDB CNACVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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
CWE-266Incorrect Privilege Assignment
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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