Flowise: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
CVE-2026-56271 is a critical-severity use of hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability in Flowise, 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. The record lists version 3.1.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Flowise to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.66% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 52% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update Flowise to 3.1.0 or a later version.
- 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 CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 9.3 | Critical | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
Flowise before 3.1.0 (affected versions 3.0.13 and earlier) uses weak hardcoded default JWT secrets ('auth_token', 'refresh_token') and default audience and issuer values ('AUDIENCE', 'ISSUER') in the enterprise passport authentication middleware (packages/server/src/enterprise/middleware/passport/index.ts). When the corresponding environment variables (JWT_AUTH_TOKEN_SECRET, JWT_REFRESH_TOKEN_SECRET, JWT_AUDIENCE, JWT_ISSUER) are not set, the application silently falls back to these publicly known defaults, allowing an attacker to forge valid JWTs and impersonate any user, including administrators, resulting in authentication bypass.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
The product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Prevention schemes mirror that of hard-coded password storage.
More Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key vulnerabilities (CWE-321)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Flowise
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key vulnerabilities
- 8.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.5 High severity
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