Privilege escalation by backend users assigned to the default "Publisher" system role

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

4.0 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS

• CVE-2020-15248: 0.31% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 24.25 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Impact Backend users with the default "Publisher" system role have access to create & manage users where they can choose which role the new user has. This means that a user with "Publisher" access has the ability to escalate their access to "Developer" access. Patches Issue has been patched in Build 470 (v1.0.470) & v1.1.1. Workarounds Apply https://github.com/octobercms/october/commit/78a37298a4ed4602b383522344a31e311402d829 to your installation manually if unable to upgrade to Build 470 or v1.1.1. References Reported by Hoan Hoang For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: Email us at hello@octobercms.com Threat assessment: <img width="1098" alt="Screen Shot 2020-10-10 at 1 37 25 PM" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/7253840/95663611-e6326c80-0afd-11eb-8a1e-8b767a7202fb.png"

Published by the source

23 Nov 2020, 19:47 UTC

Last modified by the source

1 Feb 2023, 05:05 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 14:01 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-rfjc-xrmf-5vvw

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2020-15248

Advisory: Privilege escalation by backend users assigned to the default "Publisher" system role
IDs: CVE-2020-15248, GHSA-rfjc-xrmf-5vvw
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2020-15248 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 14:01 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 4.0)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: october/backend 1.0.470. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Packagist october/backend: affected >= 1.0.319, < 1.0.470; fixed in 1.0.470

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- Packagist october/backend: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on october/backend.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-rfjc-xrmf-5vvw (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-rfjc-xrmf-5vvw lists affected ranges: Packagist october/backend >=1.0.319 <1.0.470)

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