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CVE-2026-52821
Published:July 14, 2026
Updated:August 02, 2026
Summary Kimai 2.56.0 contains an authenticated improper authorization vulnerability in the preset-project activity creation flow. A user with the generic "create_activity" permission, but without access to a target project, can still create a new "Activity" under that unauthorized project by visiting the preset project creation route directly. This is a persistent cross-project business-object creation issue. The attacker does not need permission to view or edit the target project and only needs to know a valid "project.id". Details The issue affects the activity creation entry point that accepts a preset project identifier: - "GET/POST /en/admin/activity/create/{project}" - "GET/POST /en/admin/project/create/{customer}" In "src/Controller/ActivityController.php", the controller checks only the global capability to create activities and does not verify whether the current user is allowed to create an activity under the supplied "Project" object. The form and repository path also preserve the preset project instead of rejecting it when the user lacks access. Because the preset project is merged into the candidate set, the final save operation can persist a new "Activity" under a project that is outside the attacker's authorized project scope. The same logic applies to the "src/Controller/ProjectController.php". A PoC was provided, but removed for security reasons. Impact This vulnerability allows an authenticated user to inject new child business objects into projects outside their authorized scope. An attacker can pollute another team's project configuration, influence later timesheet selection and rate inheritance, and create conditions for downstream business abuse if other users start using the injected activity. Solution - In "ActivityController" we now validate if the project can be edited with "[IsGranted('edit', 'project')]" - In "ProjectController" we now validate if if the customer can be edited with "[IsGranted('edit', 'customer')]" See https://www.kimai.org/en/security/ghsa-3q6q-26vg-v97x
Affected Packages
kimai/kimai (PHP):
Affected version(s) >=dev-release-1.12 <2.57.0
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 2.57.0
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CVSS v4
Base Score:
5.3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
NONE
Vulnerable System Integrity
LOW
Vulnerable System Availability
NONE
Subsequent System Confidentiality
NONE
Subsequent System Integrity
NONE
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
CVSS v3
Base Score:
4.3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
LOW
Availability
NONE
Weakness Type (CWE)
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Missing Authorization