Privilege escalation via skipped root-field auth
Published Aug 18, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
@neo4j/graphql before 5.12.15 and 7.6.0, and 6.0.0 through 6.6.4, allows remote authenticated users to invoke restricted root fields. On Query and Mutation types, the authorization path evaluates the broader type-level @authentication rule and silently drops the stricter field-level @authentication rule on root custom-resolver fields. Exploitation requires features.authorization and a schema that combines both rules on the same root operation type; any valid non-admin token satisfying the broader rule can read protected data or run restricted mutations.
Summary
What happened
@neo4j/graphql before 5.12.15 and 7.6.0, and 6.0.0 through 6.6.4, allows remote authenticated users to invoke restricted root fields. On Query and Mutation types, the authorization path evaluates the broader type-level @authentication rule and silently drops the stricter field-level @authentication rule on root custom-resolver fields. Exploitation requires features.authorization and a schema that combines both rules on the same root operation type; any valid non-admin token satisfying the broader rule can read protected data or run restricted mutations.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-19869
- Published
- Aug 18, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Neo4j
- Product
- Neo4j GraphQL Library
- Classifications
- CWE-285, CWE-639, T1078
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=5.2.0 <5.12.15
- Affected versionversion=6.0.0 <=6.6.4
- Affected versionversion=7.0.0 <7.6.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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