CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-85057NVD status: Deferred

zitadel: Improper Access Control

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-85057 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in zitadel, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.7 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected zitadel versions: >= 3.0.0, < 3.4.13; >= 4.0.0, < 4.16.1. 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.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of zitadel you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Zitadelzitadel>= 3.0.0, < 3.4.13; >= 4.0.0, < 4.16.1Not 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.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

ZITADEL is an open source identity management platform. From 3.0.0 until 3.4.13 and 4.16.1, ZITADEL Actions V1 enables the goja Node-compatible require() registry without restricting its filesystem source loader. An organization Action author with ORG_OWNER, org.action.write, and org.flow.write permissions can run JavaScript at OIDC, SAML, and login-flow trigger points and load files readable by the ZITADEL server process. This can disclose mounted configuration and secrets, including credentials stored through ZITADEL_FIRSTINSTANCE_LOGINCLIENTPATPATH or ZITADEL_FIRSTINSTANCE_MACHINEKEYPATH, and recovered bootstrap credentials can enable escalation from an organization administrator to an instance administrator. The issue affects Actions V1, and host command execution is not established. This issue is fixed in versions 3.4.13 and 4.16.1.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control

The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.

More Improper Access Control vulnerabilities (CWE-284)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in zitadel

All zitadel vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.