cloudreve: Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
CVE-2026-25726 is a critical-severity use of cryptographically weak pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) vulnerability in cloudreve, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected cloudreve versions: < 4.13.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.39% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of cloudreve you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
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.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
Cloudreve is a self-hosted file management and sharing system. Prior to version 4.13.0, the application uses the weak pseudo-random number generator math/rand seeded with time.Now().UnixNano() to generate critical security secrets, including the secret_key, and hash_id_salt. These secrets are generated upon first startup and persisted in the database. An attacker can exploit this by obtaining the administrator's account creation time (via public API endpoints) to narrow the search window for the PRNG seed, and use known hashid to validate the seed. By brute-forcing the seed (demonstrated to take <3 hours on general consumer PC), an attacker can predict the secret_key. This allows them to forge valid JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) for any user, including administrators, leading to full account takeover and privilege escalation. This issue has been patched in version 4.13.0.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
The product uses a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) in a security context, but the PRNG's algorithm is not cryptographically strong.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use functions or hardware which use a hardware-based random number generation for all crypto. This is the recommended solution. Use CyptGenRandom on Windows, or hw_rand() on Linux.
More Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) vulnerabilities (CWE-338)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Patches and release notes
- github.com/cloudreve/cloudreve/releases/tag/4.13.0Product, Release Notes
Other vulnerabilities in cloudreve
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
Recent Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
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