CVE-2026-27960
Published: 05 May 2026
Description
OpenCTI is an open source platform for managing cyber threat intelligence knowledge and observables. In versions 6.6.0 through 6.9.12, there is a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to query the API as any existing user,…
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including the default admin account. This issue has been fixed in version 6.9.13. As a workaround, the default admin can be disabled using the `APP__ADMIN__EXTERNALLY_MANAGED` configuration.
Likely Mitigating ControlsAI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Detects unauthorized successful logons resulting from improper authentication implementations.
Documented procedures ensure personnel are trained on authentication mechanisms, tangibly lowering the risk of improper authentication being exploited.
Security awareness training instructs users on secure authentication practices and avoiding credential compromise.
Training on authentication mechanisms and best practices decreases the occurrence of improper authentication.
Non-repudiation requires strong authentication mechanisms to irrefutably attribute performed actions to specific individuals or processes.
Session content review can reveal authentication bypasses or failures in session establishment.
Review of authentication-related audit records can detect improper authentication mechanisms or bypasses.
Assessments check authentication mechanisms for correct implementation and effectiveness, reducing successful authentication bypass attempts.
Security SummaryAI
CVE-2026-27960 is a privilege escalation vulnerability (CWE-287) in OpenCTI, an open-source platform for managing cyber threat intelligence knowledge and observables. The flaw affects versions 6.6.0 through 6.9.12 and enables unauthenticated attackers to query the API as any existing user, including the default admin account. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating critical severity due to its network accessibility, low attack complexity, and lack of prerequisites.
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without privileges or user interaction. By leveraging the flaw, they can impersonate legitimate users to access sensitive threat intelligence data and observables, potentially leading to unauthorized data exfiltration, manipulation, or disruption of platform availability.
The vulnerability is fixed in OpenCTI version 6.9.13. As a workaround, administrators can disable the default admin account using the `APP__ADMIN__EXTERNALLY_MANAGED` configuration option. Additional details are available in the security advisory at https://github.com/OpenCTI-Platform/opencti/security/advisories/GHSA-6vvv-vmfr-xhrx.
Details
- CWE(s)
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
CVE describes remote unauthenticated auth bypass (CWE-287) on public-facing OpenCTI API allowing impersonation of any user including default admin; directly enables T1190 (exploit public app for initial access), T1068 (exploit for priv esc), and T1078/T1078.001 (abuse valid/default accounts without credentials).