curl: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CVE-2026-94266 is a high-severity insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability in curl, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected curl versions: 8.22.0 and earlier; 8.21.0 and earlier; 8.20.0 and earlier, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.56% 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 curl you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curl | curl | 8.22.0 and earlier; 8.21.0 and earlier; 8.20.0 and earlier; 8.19.0 and earlier; 8.18.0 and earlier; 8.17.0 and earlier; 8.16.0 and earlier; 8.15.0 and earlier; and 32 more ranges | 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.
- 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
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
libcurl could accidentally return a URL for `curl_easy_getinfo()`'s `CURLINFO_EFFECTIVE_URL` option containing credentials, even though neither the URL provided to libcurl nor the redirected URL did.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an appropriate security mechanism to protect the credentials.
- Make appropriate use of cryptography to protect the credentials.
- Use industry standards to protect the credentials (e.g. LDAP, keystore, etc.).
More Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities (CWE-522)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in curl
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
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