CVE-2026-50000

What it is

SecureDrop is an open-source whistleblower submission system that media organizations can use to securely accept documents from, and communicate with anonymous sources. From 2.5.0 until 2.16.0, the `Journalist Interface` can accept an `API session` token against the `web UI` because its `SessionInterface` keeps a mutable session key prefix that changes with each request and persists across requests. API and web sessions were separated in `Redis` starting in version 2.5.0, but prefix corruption confuses those session namespaces. An attacker who already has access to the secret `Journalist Interface` onion address, the required authentication access and a recent nonexpired `API session` token can reuse that token against the `web UI` until its natural expiry, at most eight hours. The corrupted prefix can also prevent logout from deleting the correct `Redis` session, although normal expiry still applies. A compromised journalist can access encrypted submissions and perform broad actions on source submissions, but this issue does not expose plaintext submissions or affect the running system's availability. This issue is fixed in version 2.16.0.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network with an admin-level account. High risk of data tampering.

Exploit odds

0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2026-06-02 18:30 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2. 2026-10-30 17:17 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
3. 2026-10-30 19:37 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.4% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.0 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2026-10-30 17:17 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-30 19:37 UTC

Exploit probability

0.4% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-863 · Incorrect authorization

Record status

Awaiting Analysis

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.0

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

High

Privileges needed

High

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

High

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-50000.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-50000. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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