CVE-2026-35412

Directus' TUS resumable upload endpoint (/files/tus) allows any authenticated user with basic file upload permissions to overwrite arbitrary existing files by UUID. The TUS controller performs only collection-level authorization checks, verifying the user has some permission on directus_files, but never validates item-level access to the specific file being replaced. As a result, row-level permission rules (e.g., "users can only update their own files") are completely bypassed via the TUS path while being correctly enforced on the standard REST upload path.

Workaround

Disable TUS uploads by setting TUS_ENABLED=false if resumable uploads are not required.

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered and reported by bugbunny.ai.

• Arbitrary file overwrite: Any authenticated user with basic TUS upload permissions can overwrite any file in directus_files by UUID, regardless of row-level permission rules.
• Permanent data loss: The victim file's original stored bytes are deleted from storage and replaced with attacker-controlled content.
• Metadata corruption: The victim file's database record is updated with the attacker's filename, type, and size metadata.
  Privilege escalation potential: If admin-owned files (e.g., application assets, templates) are stored in directus_files, a low-privilege user could replace them with malicious content.

The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions. Typical impact: unauthorized data access or execution of privileged operations.

CVE-2026-35412 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (High). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (11.16.1); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

1. What is CVE-2026-35412? CVE-2026-35412 is a high-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in directus (npm), affecting versions < 11.16.1. It is fixed in 11.16.1. The application does not correctly enforce access controls, allowing a principal to access resources or operations beyond their granted permissions.
2. How severe is CVE-2026-35412? CVE-2026-35412 has a CVSS score of 7.1 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of directus are affected by CVE-2026-35412? directus (npm) versions < 11.16.1 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35412? Yes. CVE-2026-35412 is fixed in 11.16.1. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2026-35412 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-35412 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2026-35412 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2026-35412? Upgrade directus to 11.16.1 or later.