CVE-2026-39857

Information Disclosure via `choices`/`counts` Query Parameters Bypassing publicApiProjection Field Restrictions

Published Apr 15, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
ApostropheCMS is an open-source Node.js content management system. Versions 4.28.0 and prior contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in the choices and counts query parameters of the REST API, where these query builders execute MongoDB distinct() operations that bypass the publicApiProjection restrictions intended to limit which fields are exposed publicly. The choices and counts parameters are processed via applyBuildersSafely before the projection is applied, and MongoDB's distinct operation does not respect projections, returning all distinct values directly. The results are returned in the API response without any filtering against publicApiProjection or removeForbiddenFields. An unauthenticated attacker can extract all distinct field values for any schema field type that has a registered query builder, including string, integer, float, select, boolean, date, slug, and relationship fields. Fields protected with viewPermission are similarly exposed, and the counts variant additionally reveals how many documents have each distinct value. Both the piece-type and page REST APIs are affected. This issue has been fixed in version 4.29.0.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-c276-fj82-f2pq ApostropheCMS: Information Disclosure via choices/counts Query Parameters Bypassing publicApiProjection Field Restrictions
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:apostrophecms:apostrophecms:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apostrophecms
Apostrophecms apostrophecms
Vendors & Products Apostrophecms
Apostrophecms apostrophecms
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description ApostropheCMS is an open-source Node.js content management system. Versions 4.28.0 and prior contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in the choices and counts query parameters of the REST API, where these query builders execute MongoDB distinct() operations that bypass the publicApiProjection restrictions intended to limit which fields are exposed publicly. The choices and counts parameters are processed via applyBuildersSafely before the projection is applied, and MongoDB's distinct operation does not respect projections, returning all distinct values directly. The results are returned in the API response without any filtering against publicApiProjection or removeForbiddenFields. An unauthenticated attacker can extract all distinct field values for any schema field type that has a registered query builder, including string, integer, float, select, boolean, date, slug, and relationship fields. Fields protected with viewPermission are similarly exposed, and the counts variant additionally reveals how many documents have each distinct value. Both the piece-type and page REST APIs are affected. This issue has been fixed in version 4.29.0.
Title Information Disclosure via `choices`/`counts` Query Parameters Bypassing publicApiProjection Field Restrictions
Weaknesses CWE-200
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Apr 16, 2026, 1:40 PM
Reserved
Apr 7, 2026, 7:13 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 15, 2026, 8:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 10:10 PM