CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-90579NVD status: Deferred

Cheshire Cat AI: Improper Authentication

CVE-2026-90579 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in Cheshire Cat AI from Cheshire-cat-ai, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Cheshire Cat AI versions: 1.9.0; 1.9.1; 1.9.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.65% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 52% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Cheshire Cat AI you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Cheshire-cat-aiCheshire Cat AI1.9.0; 1.9.1; 1.9.2Not 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
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
LowSome restricted data can be read.
Integrity
LowLimited modification of data is possible.
Availability
LowPerformance or availability is reduced.

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

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.05.5MediumCNA (vuldb.com)
CVSS 3.17.3HighCNA (vuldb.com)
CVSS 2.07.5HighCNA (vuldb.com)

Official description

A vulnerability has been found in cheshire-cat-ai Cheshire Cat AI up to 1.9.2. This affects the function _authorize_http_key of the file core/cat/factory/custom_auth_handler.py. The manipulation of the argument user_id leads to missing authentication. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The project was informed of the problem early through an issue report but has not responded yet.

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

The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication

When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.

More Improper Authentication vulnerabilities (CWE-287)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities

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