CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2026-40291 — Chamilo LMS is an open-source learning management system

High CVSS 8.8

Chamilo LMS is an open-source learning management system. In versions prior to 2.0.0-RC.3, an insecure direct object modification vulnerability in the PUT /api/users/{id} endpoint allows any authenticated user with ROLE_STUDENT to escalate their privileges to ROLE_ADMIN by modifying the roles field on their own user record. The API Platform security expression is_granted('EDIT', object) only verifies record ownership, and the roles field is included in the writable serialization group, enabling any user to set arbitrary roles such as ROLE_ADMIN. Successful exploitation grants full administrative control of the platform, including access to all courses, user data, grades, and administrative settings. This issue has been fixed in version 2.0.0-RC.3.

Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Published
2026-04-14
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-269, CWE-863

Affected products

  • chamilo / chamilo_lms
  • chamilo / chamilo_lms / 2.0.0

Showing 2 representative product identities from 11 source matches. Confirm exact affected versions with the linked vendor and NVD evidence.

Matched remediation archetype

Privilege escalation and unsafe privilege management

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Check exposure

  • Map service accounts, operating-system identities, roles, capabilities, impersonation, set-user transitions, and administrative helper paths.
  • Determine whether untrusted users or lower-privilege processes can reach the affected transition or modify inputs it trusts.
  • Review file, socket, registry, device, job, container, and cloud-role permissions used before and after privilege changes.

Remediate safely

  • Apply the supported fix and redesign privileged operations as a minimal, authenticated, allowlisted interface.
  • Drop privileges before processing untrusted input, verify the drop succeeds, and remove unnecessary roles, capabilities, and write permissions.
  • Validate ownership and permissions at time of use and add explicit lower-to-higher privilege boundary tests.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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