CVE-2025-68270 is a critical authorization bypass vulnerability in the Open edX edx-platform, a widely used open-source learning management system. The flaw stems from improper enforcement of role-based access controls for users assigned the CourseLimitedStaffRole at the organizational level rather than the course level. Prior to commit 05d0d0936daf82c476617257aa6c35f0cd4ca060, these users could access the studio interface and edit courses they should not have permissions for, as well as list courses beyond their authorized scope. This occurs because the platform failed to verify that the CourseLimitedStaffRole was granted specifically on a course, allowing broader access when assigned at the organization level. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating a failure to properly restrict access to resources. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L) reflects that the attack can be launched remotely over the network with low complexity, requires only low privileges, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity at a high level, with limited availability impact. Although no public exploits have been reported, the high severity and ease of exploitation make this a significant risk. The vulnerability affects all edx-platform deployments prior to the fixed commit, and organizations using Open edX with role assignments at the organizational level are particularly vulnerable. The patch commit 05d0d0936daf82c476617257aa6c35f0cd4ca060 corrects the authorization checks to ensure CourseLimitedStaffRole users can only access courses they are explicitly assigned to at the course level, restoring proper access control enforcement.

For European organizations, especially educational institutions and training providers using the Open edX platform, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the confidentiality and integrity of course content and user data. Unauthorized users with limited staff roles could gain access to sensitive course materials, modify content, or disrupt course delivery, potentially affecting thousands of students and educators. This could lead to intellectual property theft, exposure of personal data, and damage to institutional reputation. The integrity impact could undermine the trustworthiness of educational certifications and assessments. Additionally, unauthorized edits could introduce misinformation or malicious content. Given the remote network exploitability and lack of required user interaction, attackers could automate exploitation attempts, increasing the risk of widespread compromise. The limited availability impact suggests the platform would largely remain operational, but the core educational functions could be compromised. The vulnerability also raises compliance concerns under GDPR due to unauthorized access to personal data. Organizations with decentralized role management practices are at higher risk, as improper role assignments facilitate exploitation.

European organizations should immediately verify their Open edX platform version and apply the patch corresponding to commit 05d0d0936daf82c476617257aa6c35f0cd4ca060 or later. If patching is not immediately feasible, restrict network access to the studio interface to trusted administrators only, using network segmentation and firewall rules. Review and audit all CourseLimitedStaffRole assignments to ensure they are granted strictly at the course level, not at the organizational level. Implement strict role management policies and periodic access reviews to prevent improper privilege assignments. Enable detailed logging and monitoring of studio access and course edits to detect anomalous activities. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block unauthorized access patterns. Educate administrators about the vulnerability and the importance of least privilege principles. Finally, coordinate with Open edX community and vendors for updates and security advisories to stay informed about any emerging exploits or additional patches.