CVE-2026-55088Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Author impersonation via replayable token transfer

Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026

Authentication bypass in Etherpad before 3.1.0 allows remote attackers to impersonate an author via a leaked token-transfer URL. In src/node/hooks/express/tokenTransfer.ts, GET /tokenTransfer/{uuid} redeems stored author-token records without checking createdAt for expiry, does not remove the record after success, and sends the full tokenData object back to the caller, exposing the raw token as well as setting a fresh HttpOnly cookie. Exploitation requires disclosure of a transfer UUID from a QR code, history entry, log, screenshot, or similar channel, after which the same UUID can be replayed to read and write pads as the originating author until that token is otherwise invalidated.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Etherpad before 3.1.0 allows remote attackers to impersonate an author via a leaked token-transfer URL. In src/node/hooks/express/tokenTransfer.ts, GET /tokenTransfer/{uuid} redeems stored author-token records without checking createdAt for expiry, does not remove the record after success, and sends the full tokenData object back to the caller, exposing the raw token as well as setting a fresh HttpOnly cookie. Exploitation requires disclosure of a transfer UUID from a QR code, history entry, log, screenshot, or similar channel, after which the same UUID can be replayed to read and write pads as the originating author until that token is otherwise invalidated.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-55088
Published
Aug 19, 2026
Updated
Aug 19, 2026
Vendor
Etherpad Foundation
Product
Etherpad
Classifications
CWE-200, CWE-294, T1539
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 2.6.0, < 3.1.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Etherpad Foundation · Etherpadversion=>= 2.6.0, < 3.1.0

Published CVSS scores

6.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CWE-294Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay
T1539Steal Web Session Cookie

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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