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CVE-2023-38503

Directus has Incorrect Permission Checking for GraphQL Subscriptions

5.7 MediumFix available

Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Starting in version 10.3.0 and prior to version 10.5.0, the permission filters (i.e. user_created IS $CURRENT_USER) are not properly checked when using GraphQL subscription resulting in unauthorized users getting event on their subscription which they should not be receiving according to the permissions. This can be any collection but out-of-the box the directus_users collection is configured with such a permissions filter allowing you to get updates for other users when changes happen. Version 10.5.0 contains a patch. As a workaround, disable GraphQL subscriptions.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

0.50%Up 0.5 points since Jul 26, 2023
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 5.7

Directus has Incorrect Permission Checking for GraphQL Subscriptions

Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Starting in version 10.3.0 and prior to version 10.5.0, the permission filters (i.e. user_created IS $CURRENT_USER) are not properly checked when using GraphQL subscription resulting in unauthorized users getting event on their subscription which they should not be receiving according to the permissions. This can be any collection but out-of-the box the directus_users collection is configured with such a permissions filter allowing you to get updates for other users when changes happen. Version 10.5.0 contains a patch. As a workaround, disable GraphQL subscriptions.

Record
CVE-2023-38503
CVSS 3.1
5.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-200
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-2063 5.7

Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Starting in version 10.3.0 and prior to version 10.5.0, the permission filters (i.e. user_created IS $CURRENT_USER) are not properly checked when using GraphQL subscription resulting in unauthorized users getting event on their subscription which they should not be receiving according to the permissions. This can be any collection but out-of-the box the directus_users collection is configured with such a permissions filter allowing you to get updates for other users when changes happen. Version 10.5.0 contains a patch. As a workaround, disable GraphQL subscriptions.

Record
EUVD-2023-2063
CVSS 3.1
5.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-gggm-66rh-pp98 5.7

Incorrect Permission Checking for GraphQL Subscriptions

Summary

CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Access to information you should not have access to when the permissions rely on $CURRENT_USER for filtering.

Details

The permission filters (i.e. user_created IS $CURRENT_USER) are not properly checked when using GraphQL subscription resulting in unauthorized users getting event on their subscription which they should not be receiving according to the permissions. This can be any collection but out-of-the box the directus_users collection is configured with such a permissions filter allowing you to get updates for other users when changes happen.

An example:

subscription {
  directus_users_mutated {
    event
    data {
      id
      last_access
      last_page
    }
  }
}

Patches

https://github.com/directus/directus/pull/19155

Workarounds

Disable GraphQL Subscriptions

References

Record
GHSA-gggm-66rh-pp98
CVSS 3.1
5.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-200, CWE-863
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 5.7

Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Starting in version 10.3.0 and prior to version 10.5.0, the permission filters (i.e. user_created IS $CURRENT_USER) are not properly checked when using GraphQL subscription resulting in unauthorized users getting event on their subscription which they should not be receiving according to the permissions. This can be any collection but out-of-the box the directus_users collection is configured with such a permissions filter allowing you to get updates for other users when changes happen. Version 10.5.0 contains a patch. As a workaround, disable GraphQL subscriptions.

Record
CVE-2023-38503
CVSS 3.1
5.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-200, CWE-863
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.7

Directus has Incorrect Permission Checking for GraphQL Subscriptions

Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Starting in version 10.3.0 and prior to version 10.5.0, the permission filters (i.e. user_created IS $CURRENT_USER) are not properly checked when using GraphQL subscription resulting in unauthorized users getting event on their subscription which they should not be receiving according to the permissions. This can be any collection but out-of-the box the directus_users collection is configured with such a permissions filter allowing you to get updates for other users when changes happen. Version 10.5.0 contains a patch. As a workaround, disable GraphQL subscriptions.

Record
CVE-2023-38503
CVSS 3.1
5.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-200
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-gggm-66rh-pp98 5.7

Incorrect Permission Checking for GraphQL Subscriptions

Summary

CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Access to information you should not have access to when the permissions rely on $CURRENT_USER for filtering.

Details

The permission filters (i.e. user_created IS $CURRENT_USER) are not properly checked when using GraphQL subscription resulting in unauthorized users getting event on their subscription which they should not be receiving according to the permissions. This can be any collection but out-of-the box the directus_users collection is configured with such a permissions filter allowing you to get updates for other users when changes happen.

An example:

subscription {
  directus_users_mutated {
    event
    data {
      id
      last_access
      last_page
    }
  }
}

Patches

https://github.com/directus/directus/pull/19155

Workarounds

Disable GraphQL Subscriptions

References

Record
GHSA-gggm-66rh-pp98
CVSS 3.1
5.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-200, CWE-863
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
directus
npm
 10.3.0 up to 10.5.0
10.5.0

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-38503 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.7) in Directus, published July 25, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.50%, the 42nd percentile. Fixed in directus 10.5.0.

References

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