Local authentication bypass via fail-open database check
Published Aug 27, 2026 · Updated Aug 27, 2026
Authentication bypass in Rapid7 Metasploit Framework before 6.5.2 allows local users to access its JSON-RPC dispatcher without a token. When db.check raises an exception while MSF_WS_JSON_RPC_API_TOKEN is unset, the service clears msf.auth_initialized, and ApiToken treats false as requiring no authentication. The JSON-RPC service must be running locally under these conditions; successful requests can read or change data exposed by dispatcher methods.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in Rapid7 Metasploit Framework before 6.5.2 allows local users to access its JSON-RPC dispatcher without a token. When db.check raises an exception while MSF_WS_JSON_RPC_API_TOKEN is unset, the service clears msf.auth_initialized, and ApiToken treats false as requiring no authentication. The JSON-RPC service must be running locally under these conditions; successful requests can read or change data exposed by dispatcher methods.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-16895
- Published
- Aug 27, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 27, 2026
- Vendor
- Rapid7
- Product
- Metasploit Framework
- Classifications
- CWE-305
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 27, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <6.5.2
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