A security vulnerability was identified in a file management workflow that allowed an unauthenticated user to delete documents uploaded by another independent session.
The root cause was insufficient server-side ownership validation. The backend processed document identifiers and generated deletion references without properly verifying whether the requesting session was authorized to access or modify the associated file.
By exploiting this behavior, an attacker could obtain a document identifier, retrieve a corresponding deletion reference through an exposed backend operation, and use that reference from a completely separate anonymous session to trigger document deletion.
The issue was successfully reproduced across multiple independent browser sessions, confirming that the deletion operation was not properly restricted to the original uploader or its associated transaction.
Security Impact
This vulnerability could allow unauthorized deletion of uploaded documents, potentially resulting in loss of important supporting files, disruption of business workflows, and compromise of data integrity.
Root Cause
Missing ownership enforcement and insufficient authorization checks when processing document identifiers and executing deletion operations.
Recommended Mitigation
Enforce strict server-side ownership validation for every document operation. Bind uploaded files to their originating session or transaction, validate authorization before generating deletion references, and ensure that deletion requests cannot be executed using references obtained from unrelated sessions.
Vulnerability Classification: Broken Access Control (IDOR)
Key Takeaway: A document identifier or deletion reference must never be treated as proof of authorization. Every sensitive file operation must independently verify ownership and access permissions.
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