CVE-2026-27803 — Vulnerability in vaultwarden — CVE Details
HIGH
Vaultwarden's Collection Management Operations Allowed Without `manage` Verification for Manager Role
Published March 4, 2026Updated March 4, 2026Source: osv
Summary
## Summary
Testing confirmed that even when a Manager has `manage=false` for a given collection, they can still perform the following management operations as long as they have access to the collection:
* `PUT /api/organizations/<org_id>/collections/<col_id>` succeeds (HTTP 200)
* `PUT /api/organizations/<org_id>/collections/<col_id>/users` succeeds (HTTP 200)
* `DELETE /api/organizations/<org_id>/collections/<col_id>` succeeds (HTTP 200)
## Description
* The Manager guard checks only whether the user **can access the collection**, not whether they have `manage` privileges. This check is directly applied to management endpoints.
src/auth.rs:816
```rust
if !Collection::can_access_collection(&headers.membership, &col_id, &conn).await {
err_handler!("The current user isn't a manager for this collection")
}
```
* The `can_access_collection` function does **not** evaluate the `manage` flag.
src/db/models/collection.rs:140
```rust
pub async fn can_access_collection(member: &Membership, col_id: &CollectionId, conn: &DbConn) -> bool {
member.has_status(MembershipStatus::Confirmed)
&& (member.has_full_access()
|| CollectionUser::has_access_to_collection_by_user(col_id, &member.user_uuid, conn).await
|| ...
```
* A separate management-permission check exists and includes `manage` validation, but it is **not used** during authorization for the affected endpoints.
src/db/models/collection.rs:516
```rust
pub async fn is_manageable_by_user(&self, user_uuid: &UserId, conn: &DbConn) -> bool {
let Some(member) = Membership::find_confirmed_by_user_and_org(user_uuid, &self.org_uuid, conn).await else {
return false;
};
if member.has_full_access() {
return true;
}
...
```
* The actual update and deletion endpoints only accept `ManagerHeaders` and do not perform additional `manage` checks.
src/api/core/organizations.rs:608
```rust
async fn put_organization_collection_update(..., headers: ManagerHeaders, ...)
```
src/api/core/organizations.rs:890
```rust
async fn put_collection_users(..., headers: ManagerHeaders, ...)
```
src/api/core/organizations.rs:747
```rust
async fn delete_organization_collection(..., headers: ManagerHeaders, ...)
```
## Preconditions
* The attacker is a **Manager** within the target organization.
* The attacker has access to the target collection (`assigned=true`).
* The attacker’s permission for that collection is `manage=false`.
* A valid API access token has been obtained.
## Steps to Reproduce
1. Confirm that the attacker’s current permissions for the target collection include `manage=false`.
<img width="2015" height="636" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/58ddc733-e37c-4766-a980-b1ea1918ceb4" />
2. As a control test, verify that update operations fail for collections the attacker cannot access.
<img width="2021" height="852" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d8699442-2dfc-4d73-8940-ec10f4a175f0" />
3. Confirm that update operations succeed for the target collection where `manage=false`.
<img width="2013" height="690" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/33d9845d-d18e-456c-a58c-e780911347a9" />
4. Use `PUT /collections/{col_id}/users` to set `manage=true`, confirming that the attacker can escalate their own privileges.
<img width="2018" height="488" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/da8c5246-cf2a-46c2-9a25-e99d907f852d" />
5. Verify that deletion of the collection succeeds despite the Manager lacking management rights.
<img width="2018" height="487" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a97c8fb2-4f97-4c2a-a90b-9d95dbde84fd" />
## Required Minimum Privileges
* Organization Manager role (Owner/Admin privileges are not required)
* Works even with `access_all=false`
* Only access rights to the target collection are required (`manage` privilege is not required)
## Attack Scenario
A restricted Manager (intended for read/use-only access) directly invokes the API to update collection settings, elevate their own privileges to `manage=true`, and even delete the collection.
This allows the user to bypass operational access restrictions and effectively gain administrator-equivalent control over the collection.
## Potential Impact
* **Confidentiality:** Expansion of access scope through unauthorized privilege escalation and configuration changes.
* **Integrity:** Unauthorized modification of collection settings and assignments; potential disabling of access controls.
* **Availability:** Deletion of collections may disrupt business operations.
Advisory Timeline
First published March 4, 2026 (222 days ago).
Last revised March 4, 2026 — 0 days after initial publication.
Remediation
Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.
Cargo
Update vaultwarden to 1.35.4 or later
cargo update -p vaultwarden --precise 1.35.4
After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.
Vaultwarden's Collection Management Operations Allowed Without `manage` Verification for Manager Role This vulnerability has been assigned a severity rating of HIGH (CVSS score: 8.3/10).
How do I check if my project is affected by CVE-2026-27803?
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Severity & Exploitability
CVSS Score
8.3
High exploitability or significant impact. Prioritize remediation within days.
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