---
id: CVE-2026-16337
title: >-
  Improper authorization in the ToolGroupResource and RoleAjax REST/DWR
  endpoints in dotCMS dotCMS 21.02 through 26.06.22-03 on all platforms allows a
  low-privileged authenticated backend user to self-assign the administrative
  layout and s…
summary: >-
  Improper authorization in the ToolGroupResource and RoleAjax REST/DWR
  endpoints in dotCMS dotCMS 21.02 through 26.06.22-03 on all platforms allows a
  low-privileged authenticated backend user to self-assign the administrative
  layout and s…
severity: critical
cvss: 9.4
cvssVector: 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-269
vendor: dotCMS
product: dotCMS
affected:
  - dotCMS >= 21.02 <= 26.06.22-03
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-07-21T12:44:52.387677Z'
published: '2026-07-20'
updated: '2026-10-18'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-18T02:38:14.709Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-16337'
references:
  - url: 'https://github.com/dotCMS/core/pull/36344'
  - url: >-
      https://dev.dotcms.com/docs/manage/access-and-security/security-and-privacy/known-security-issues?issueNumber=SI-76
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.0058
epssPercentile: 0.47523
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T03:36:14.914Z'
---

## Overview

Improper authorization in the ToolGroupResource and RoleAjax REST/DWR endpoints in dotCMS dotCMS 21.02 through 26.06.22-03 on all platforms allows a low-privileged authenticated backend user to self-assign the administrative layout and self-grant the CMS Administrator role, then achieve remote code execution via a crafted OSGi bundle upload whose BundleActivator executes arbitrary shell commands.

## Affected

- `dotCMS >= 21.02 <= 26.06.22-03`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.