P4 (Helix core): Insufficient Granularity of Access Control
CVE-2026-103509 is a high-severity insufficient granularity of access control vulnerability in P4 (Helix core) from Perforce, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected P4 (Helix core) versions: 2026.4.3 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.23% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of P4 (Helix core) you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perforce | P4 (Helix core) | 2026.4.3 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- NoneThe attack does not depend on a particular deployment or configuration.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- NoneNo loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- HighSerious loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (puppet.com).
Official description
P4 Search (formerly Helix Search) returns stored credentials in cleartext through its configuration API to users with administrative privileges on the connected P4 Server, allowing privilege escalation. This affects 2026.4.2 and earlier and is fixed in 2026.4.3.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficient Granularity of Access Control
The product implements access controls via a policy or other feature with the intention to disable or restrict accesses (reads and/or writes) to assets in a system from untrusted agents. However, implemented access controls lack the required granularity
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Access-control-policy protections must be reviewed for design inconsistency and common weaknesses. Access-control-policy definition and programming flow must be tested in pre-silicon, post-silicon testing.
More Insufficient Granularity of Access Control vulnerabilities (CWE-1220)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in P4 (Helix core)
- 7.3 High severity
- 9.5 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.5 Critical severity
- 7.7 High severity
Recent Insufficient Granularity of Access Control vulnerabilities
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
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