CVE-2026-52823

Summary Kimai 2.56.0 contains authenticated cross-site request forgery issues in its timesheet state-changing API endpoints. The application reuses the browser's existing session for /api/* requests, and both the stop and restart operations are exposed through GET and PATCH routes that directly modify business state. As a result, an attacker can trick a logged-in user into visiting a malicious page and cause unauthorized timesheet actions without the victim's consent. Depending on the endpoint, this can stop a running timesheet or create and start a new one from historical data. Details The issue affects at least the following API routes: - GET /api/timesheets/{id}/stop - GET /api/timesheets/{id}/restart Both routes are non-read-only operations but are still exposed as GET. In src/API/TimesheetController.php. *A PoC was provided, but removed for security reasons.* Impact This vulnerability allows an attacker to trigger unauthorized business-state changes as a logged-in victim. In the validated stop case, a running timesheet can be stopped, affecting time tracking integrity and potentially availability of ongoing work tracking. In the restart case, a historical timesheet can be restarted and a new record can be created without the victim's knowledge. These actions can corrupt time records, distort billing and reporting, interfere with approvals or audits, and create persistent database-side side effects. Because exploitation requires only that the victim visit a malicious page while authenticated, the attack barrier is low. Solution The GET routes were removed, both stop and restart are only available via PATCH. See https://www.kimai.org/en/security/ghsa-r8vr-m544-qh4h for more information.

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