CVE-2026-22595 is an authorization bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-863 affecting the TryGhost Ghost content management system, specifically versions 5.121.0 through 5.130.5 and 6.0.0 through 6.10.3. Ghost uses Staff Token authentication to allow external systems to interact with its API on behalf of users with Admin or Owner roles. However, due to incorrect authorization logic, certain API endpoints intended to be accessible only via Staff Session authentication were also accessible via Staff Tokens. This flaw allows an attacker who has obtained a Staff Token for an Admin or Owner user to perform unauthorized actions on these endpoints, potentially modifying or disrupting content and administrative functions. The vulnerability does not expose confidential data but can severely impact the integrity and availability of the CMS by allowing unauthorized changes or denial of service. The attack vector is network-based, requiring only low privileges (a valid Staff Token) and no user interaction, making exploitation feasible in environments where token leakage or misuse occurs. The issue was publicly disclosed on January 10, 2026, with a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.1 (high severity), reflecting the ease of exploitation and significant impact. The Ghost project has released patches in versions 5.130.6 and 6.11.0 to correct the authorization checks and prevent token misuse. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations relying on affected Ghost versions for content management.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to the integrity and availability of web content managed via Ghost CMS. Unauthorized access to privileged endpoints can lead to unauthorized content modifications, defacement, or disruption of publishing workflows, potentially damaging organizational reputation and operational continuity. Since Ghost is widely used by digital media companies, publishers, and marketing teams across Europe, exploitation could affect critical communication channels. The lack of confidentiality impact reduces the risk of data leaks, but the ability to alter or disable content management functions can have severe business consequences. Additionally, attackers leveraging this vulnerability could pivot to further internal attacks if the CMS is integrated with other systems. The ease of exploitation without user interaction and the network attack vector increase the likelihood of successful attacks, especially in environments where token management is lax. Organizations operating in sectors with high reliance on digital content, such as media, education, and government communications, are particularly vulnerable.

1. Immediately upgrade all Ghost CMS instances to versions 5.130.6 or 6.11.0 or later to apply the official patches addressing the authorization flaw. 2. Audit all issued Staff Tokens, especially those with Admin or Owner roles, to identify and revoke any tokens that may have been compromised or issued unnecessarily. 3. Implement strict token issuance policies limiting the number of Admin/Owner Staff Tokens and enforce short token lifetimes to reduce exposure. 4. Monitor API access logs for unusual patterns, such as unexpected endpoint access or token reuse from unfamiliar IP addresses. 5. Employ network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to Ghost CMS administrative endpoints only to trusted internal networks or VPNs. 6. Educate developers and administrators on secure token handling practices to prevent leakage through logs, backups, or third-party integrations. 7. Consider implementing additional application-layer authorization checks or Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block anomalous requests targeting sensitive endpoints. 8. Regularly review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving CMS compromise and unauthorized administrative access.