CVE-2025-26371 is a high-severity vulnerability classified as a CWE-862 "Missing Authorization" issue. This vulnerability allows an authenticated (low-privileged) attacker to add users to groups via crafted HTTP requests in Q-Free MaxTime versions less than or equal to 2.11.0. With a CVSS base score of 8.8, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to its potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive group functionalities, enabling low-privileged users to escalate their privileges. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to severe ramifications, particularly in environments where access control is critical. Organizations using affected versions should take immediate action to remediate.
As of now, there is no confirmed public exploit available for this vulnerability, but the high CVSS score indicates a strong potential for exploitation. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to protect against possible attacks leveraging this vulnerability.
The urgency for defenders is heightened given the vulnerability's classification and potential impact. It is advisable that organizations assess their current deployments of Q-Free MaxTime and take appropriate measures.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2025-26371 states: "A CWE-862 'Missing Authorization' in maxprofile/user-groups/routes.lua in Q-Free MaxTime less than or equal to version 2.11.0 allows an authenticated (low-privileged) attacker to add users to groups via crafted HTTP requests." This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862, indicating issues related to authorization failures.
The CVSS score of 8.8 categorizes this vulnerability as high severity, highlighting the critical nature of the issue. Affected systems include Q-Free MaxTime versions up to 2.11.0. The vulnerability was published on February 12, 2025, and has been analyzed for its impact.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the lack of proper authorization checks within the maxprofile/user-groups/routes.lua file. Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted HTTP requests to manipulate user group assignments without sufficient privileges.
The attack vector is network-based, requiring low complexity for exploitation. Only low privileges are required, and user interaction is not necessary for this vulnerability to be exploited. The potential impact is severe, as it can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, which makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing Q-Free MaxTime need to be aware of the real-world risks associated with this vulnerability. If successfully exploited, it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive functionalities, compromising user data and overall system integrity.
The blast radius for this vulnerability could be significant, considering the application’s use in critical infrastructure and services that require stringent access controls. Organizations must assess their exposure to this vulnerability and implement urgent measures to mitigate risk.
The urgency for remediation is high, given the high CVSS score and potential exploitation. Organizations should prioritize this vulnerability in their patch cycle, ensuring that they remain vigilant against potential threats.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions of Q-Free MaxTime include all versions up to and including 2.11.0. Organizations should verify their versions and apply necessary patches to ensure protection against this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-26371, organizations should prioritize applying patches provided by Q-Free. It is essential to upgrade to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability.
If immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing workarounds such as restricting access to user group functionalities for low-privileged accounts and enhancing monitoring of user activities.
Organizations may also benefit from configuration hardening and network controls to limit exposure to exploitation attempts. For further assistance, organizations can consider engaging in penetration testing services to identify vulnerabilities in their systems.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unusual access patterns or changes in user group assignments. Behavioral anomalies, such as low-privileged users attempting to add themselves or others to groups, should be investigated.
Network signatures can be implemented to detect suspicious HTTP requests targeting the user group functionalities. Regular audits and system changes should also be monitored to ensure compliance with security policies.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-26371 extends beyond immediate risks. It highlights the necessity for robust authorization mechanisms in applications to prevent unauthorized access, particularly in systems managing user roles and permissions.
This vulnerability emphasizes a pattern in application security where insufficient access controls can lead to severe consequences. Security teams should prioritize reviewing and enhancing authorization processes to ensure compliance with best practices.
A strategic defensive takeaway is to invest in regular security assessments, including vulnerability management programs, to proactively identify and mitigate such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
In conclusion, CVE-2025-26371 serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of stringent security measures in software development and deployment.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

.webp)