Executive Summary
Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Prior to 11.16.1, Directus' TUS resumable upload endpoint (/files/tus) allows any authenticated user with basic file upload permissions to overwrite arbitrary existing files by UUID. The TUS controller performs only collection-level authorization checks, verifying the user has some permission on directus_files, but never validates item-level access to the specific file being replaced. As a result, row-level permission rules (e.g., "users can only update their own files") are completely bypassed via the TUS path while being correctly enforced on the standard REST upload path. This vulnerability is fixed in 11.16.1.
Quantitative Risk Analysis
Attack Vector Profile
The payload vectors broken down by magnitude impact and ease-of-deployment factor mapping.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:LWhat This Means For Your System
Each point below is derived directly from this CVE's CVSS v3.1 vector — not editorial opinion.
Exploitable remotely over the internet — no physical or local access needed.
No special preconditions — the attack is reliably repeatable.
A basic authenticated account is sufficient to trigger this.
No user interaction required — the attacker acts autonomously.
Successful exploitation causes: complete integrity compromise, partial service degradation.
OsVault Risk Score Methodology
The OsVault composite score is a 5-layer non-linear engine — not a simple weighted average. Each input signal is transformed through mathematically appropriate curves before blending, ensuring that exploitability context overrides raw severity when warranted.
Layer 1 (Technical): CVSS is mapped through a piecewise exponential curve with 4 bands (LOW 0–20, MEDIUM 20–55, HIGH 55–85, CRITICAL 85–100), then multiplied by full CVSS vector decomposition factors for Attack Vector, Complexity, Privileges, and User Interaction.
Layer 2 (Threat): Raw EPSS is passed through a logistic sigmoid (k=40, midpoint=0.05) to maximize discrimination in the decision-relevant range. The result is added to an exploit maturity tier base score (Weaponized: 85, Functional: 55, PoC: 40, Unproven: 18).
Layer 3 (KEV Floor):Any CVE in CISA's catalog receives a hard minimum of 93.0 (Functional) or 97.0 (Weaponized). This ensures confirmed exploitation is never buried by low CVSS scores.
Scores ≥70: patch immediately. 40–69: schedule within current sprint. Below 40: standard maintenance cycle.
Remediation Commands
Commands to update each affected package identified in this advisory. Verify the target release explicitly addresses this CVE in the upstream changelog before deploying to production.
npm install directus@latest