Craft CMS versions 5.0.0-RC1 through 5.10.11 are missing an admin-target guard in UsersController::actionActivateUser (the users/activate-user action). While the action requires the administrateUsers permission, it does not call requireAdmin() when the targeted user is an administrator, unlike the mirror action actionDeactivateUser. As a result, an authenticated control panel user who is not an administrator but holds the administrateUsers permission can activate a pending or deliberately deactivated administrator account, which can lead to permission escalation when combined with resetting that account's password. The issue is fixed in Craft CMS 5.10.12.

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
craftcms cms unaffected
Version Status Constraints
5.0.0-RC1 affected < 5.10.12
5.10.12 unaffected —

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Project Subscriptions

Vendors Products
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Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/craftcms/cms/security/advisories/GHSA-jqf5-vfg6-8cx5 cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/craft-cms-5.0.0-rc1-before-5.10.12-permission-escalation-via-userscontroller cve-icon cve-icon
History

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Craft CMS versions 5.0.0-RC1 through 5.10.11 are missing an admin-target guard in UsersController::actionActivateUser (the users/activate-user action). While the action requires the administrateUsers permission, it does not call requireAdmin() when the targeted user is an administrator, unlike the mirror action actionDeactivateUser. As a result, an authenticated control panel user who is not an administrator but holds the administrateUsers permission can activate a pending or deliberately deactivated administrator account, which can lead to permission escalation when combined with resetting that account's password. The issue is fixed in Craft CMS 5.10.12.
Title Craft CMS 5.0.0-RC1 before 5.10.12 Permission Escalation via UsersController
First Time appeared Craftcms
Craftcms craft Cms
Weaknesses CWE-862
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:craftcms:craft_cms:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Craftcms
Craftcms craft Cms
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-08T15:14:01.558Z

Reserved: 2026-09-08T11:31:09.013Z

Link: CVE-2026-86731

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-08T16:18:35.187

Modified: 2026-09-08T16:18:35.187

Link: CVE-2026-86731

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-08T17:00:02Z

Weaknesses