Arcane: Delegated users:update permission allows admin account takeover via password reset (no privilege-hierarchy check)
CVE-2026-96627 · GHSA-pw5q-rjx4-7f7p · GO-2026-6807 · published 16 Oct 2026
How serious is it
- Severity: high, CVSS score 8.8 out of 10.
- No exploit prediction (EPSS) score yet.
- Not on the CISA list of exploited vulnerabilities.
- No public exploit in Exploit-DB.
Is your app affected by CVE-2026-96627?
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Who is affected
github.com/getarcaneapp/arcane/backend/v2(Go) < 2.6.0
How to check
- Run
go list -m github.com/getarcaneapp/arcane/backend/v2in your project to see the installed version, including copies pulled in by other packages. - Or paste your lockfile into the checker: it lists every package with a known vulnerability, this one included.
How to fix
Copies a prompt for Claude Code, Cursor or Codex: it checks your lockfiles for this and upgrades it.
- Upgrade
github.com/getarcaneapp/arcane/backend/v2to 2.6.0 or later, commit the lockfile and redeploy. - If a vulnerable version was live, check your logs and rotate the secrets that server could read.
The advisory
## Summary
A user holding the delegated `users:update` permission can reset the global administrator's password and take over the admin account. `UpdateUser` sets the target user's `PasswordHash` from the request body for ANY target with no comparison of caller-vs-target privilege. Because role assignment and role CRUD are deliberately gated by `RequireGlobalAdmin`, `users:update` is intended to sit BELOW admin (profile management); this finding defeats that separation.
## Root Cause
`UpdateUser` (handler `backend/api/handlers/users.go:317-323`) loads the target by ID and sets `userModel.PasswordHash` from the request body for any user, then `userService.UpdateUser` (`user_service.go:174`) simply `tx.Save`s — with NO actor-vs-target privilege comparison. The only `IsGlobalAdmin` guard (`user_service.go:345`) is a last-admin check inside `DeleteUser`, not the update path. Role assignment / role CRUD are `RequireGlobalAdmin` (`backend/pkg/authz/permissions.go:27-33`), proving `users:update` is intended below admin.
## Impact
Complete administrator account takeover (C:H/I:H/A:H) by any holder of the delegated `users:update` permission.
## Proof of Concept
1. Admin delegates a custom "User Manager" role with `users:update`.
2. `PUT /users/{adminId}` with `{"password":"attacker123"}`.
3. `POST /auth/login {"username":"arcane","password":"attacker123"}` → admin session.
## Attack Chain
1. Action: admin delegates custom role with `users:update`. Guard: role creation is `RequireGlobalAdmin`. Bypass: intended delegation (holder is meant to manage profiles, not seize admin).
2. Action: `PUT /users/{adminId}` `{"password":"attacker123"}`. Guard: `RequirePermission(users:update)` (`users.go:154`). Bypass: holder has it; no hierarchy check (`users.go:317-323`, `user_service.go:174` unconditional Save).
3. Action: `POST /auth/login` as admin → admin session.
## Bypass Evidence
- `users.go:317-323` sets `PasswordHash` for any target; `user_service.go:174-194` has no actor/target privilege comparison.
- Only `IsGlobalAdmin` hits are `DeleteUser`'s last-admin guard and DTO flags (grep).
- `users:update` is org-level, held by no built-in non-admin role (`permissions.go:24`).
## Affected Versions
`<= 2.5.0`.
Reported by **zx (Jace)** — GitHub: @manus-use
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References
- github.com/getarcaneapp/arcane/security/advisories/GHSA-pw5q-rjx4-7f7p
- github.com/getarcaneapp/arcane/pull/3426
- github.com/getarcaneapp/arcane/commit/21ea962f86d967dac8ae02a050f6e5f043d10fa1
- github.com/getarcaneapp/arcane/releases/tag/backend/v2.6.0
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-pw5q-rjx4-7f7p
Merged from GitHub Advisory Database, OSV. Last updated 23 Oct 2026. All vulnerabilities · RSS · JSON