# Wagtail improper permission handling when copying snippets

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/wagtail-improper-permission-handling-when-copying-snippets-7cffb199  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-20. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

Severity: medium · CVSS 6.5 · Published 2026-08-20

Wagtail is a popular open-source CMS that manages digital content and permissions for editorial teams. A flaw in snippet copying allows a user with only "add" permission to access and view snippet content they should not have permission to see, potentially exposing sensitive editorial data or restricted content to unauthorized personnel.

Technologies: [Wagtail](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/wagtail). Vendors: [Wagtail](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/wagtail).

## Quick answers

**Is This vulnerability exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of This vulnerability being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is This vulnerability?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 20 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Wagtail < 7.0.9, >= 7.1 and < 7.3.4, >= 7.4 and < 7.4.3, = 8.0rc1.

**Is there a fix for This vulnerability?** A patch was published on 2026-08-20: Patches released: Wagtail 7.0.9, 7.3.4, 7.4.3, 8.0rc2 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is This vulnerability attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected?** Check whether you run Wagtail at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a permission bypass (CWE-280: Improper Handling of Insufficient Permissions or Privileges) in Wagtail's snippet copy functionality. A user holding only "add" permission on a snippet model could leverage the copy operation to duplicate an existing snippet they lack "view" or "change" permission for, gaining unauthorized access to its data. The vulnerability requires low-level privileges (authenticated user with limited add permission) and network reachability to the CMS. An attacker can view restricted snippet content, though they cannot modify or delete it. Patches are available in Wagtail 7.0.9, 7.3.4, 7.4.3, and 8.0rc2 and later.

## Affected products

- Wagtail Wagtail CMS < 7.0.9, >= 7.1 and < 7.3.4, >= 7.4 and < 7.4.3, = 8.0rc1

## Timeline

- 2026-08-20: disclosed: Vulnerability published on GitHub Advisory Database
- 2026-08-20: patched: Patches released: Wagtail 7.0.9, 7.3.4, 7.4.3, 8.0rc2

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/gasman](https://api.github.com/users/gasman)
- [https://github.com/gasman](https://github.com/gasman)
- [https://api.github.com/users/gasman/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/gasman/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/gasman/repos](https://api.github.com/users/gasman/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/85097?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/85097?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/gasman/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/gasman/events%7B/privacy%7D)

## Related threats

- [Wagtail permission bypass in copy page for translation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125106-wagtail-is-an-open-source-content-management-system-built-on)
- [Wagtail Documents and Images API access control bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123820-wagtail-is-an-open-source-content-management-system-built-on)
- [Wagtail snippet copy permission bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123819-wagtail-is-an-open-source-content-management-system-built-on)
- [Wagtail Pages admin API improper access control](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-55468-wagtail-pages-admin-api-improper-access-control)
- [Wagtail improper permission restriction on page translation API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/wagtail-improper-permission-restriction-on-page-translation-api-871f4804)