Improperly controlled modification of dynamically-determined object attributes in the Cognito User Pool configuration in AWS Ops Wheel before PR #165...
Description
Improperly controlled modification of dynamically-determined object attributes in the Cognito User Pool configuration in AWS Ops Wheel before PR #165 allows remote authenticated users to escalate to deployment admin privileges and manage Cognito user accounts via a crafted UpdateUserAttributes API call that sets the custom:deployment_admin attribute
AI Analyst Comment
Remediation
Apply vendor security updates immediately. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
---METADATA---
VENDOR: AWS
PRODUCT: Ops Wheel
AFFECTED_VERSIONS: See vendor advisory for affected versions
---END_METADATA---
Description Summary:
AWS Ops Wheel is vulnerable to an attribute modification flaw in Cognito User Pool configuration, allowing authenticated users to escalate their privileges to deployment administrator.
Executive Summary:
An authenticated privilege escalation vulnerability in AWS Ops Wheel allows remote users to gain deployment administrator access by manipulating Cognito User Pool attributes.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-6912
Affected Software: AWS Ops Wheel
Affected Versions: See vendor advisory for affected versions (Fixed in PR #165)
Vulnerability: The vulnerability involves improper control of dynamically-determined object attributes. An authenticated user can leverage a crafted
UpdateUserAttributesAPI call to modify thecustom:deployment_adminattribute, effectively granting themselves unauthorized administrative control over user accounts.Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 8.8, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to cloud administrative integrity. Successful exploitation leads to full unauthorized administrative access, allowing an attacker to manipulate user accounts, access sensitive cloud resources, and potentially compromise the entire deployment environment.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action: Update AWS Ops Wheel to the version containing the fix for PR #165 or apply the vendor-recommended security patch immediately.
Proactive Monitoring: Audit CloudTrail and Cognito logs for any
UpdateUserAttributesAPI calls that modify custom attributes, specifically looking for unauthorized changes todeployment_adminflags.Compensating Controls: Implement strict IAM policies to restrict the permissions of standard users, preventing them from accessing or modifying sensitive Cognito user attributes.
Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: false
Analyst Notes: As of April 26, 2026, there is no public information indicating active exploitation of this vulnerability. However, due to the nature of the flaw, the potential for exploitation is high.
Analyst Recommendation
Privilege escalation vulnerabilities are critical in cloud environments. Administrators must audit current Cognito configurations and apply the necessary updates to Ops Wheel to prevent unauthorized administrative takeover.