Pterodactyl Panel Allows Cross-Node Server Configuration Disclosure via Remote API Missing Authorization
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-639.
Summary
Wings is the server control plane for Pterodactyl, a free, open-source game server management panel. Prior to version 1.12.1, a missing authorization check in multiple controllers allows any user with access to a node secret token to fetch information about any server on a Pterodactyl instance, even if that server is associated with a different node. This issue stems from missing logic to verify that the node requesting server data is the same node that the server is associated with. Any authenticated Wings node can retrieve server installation scripts (potentially containing secret values) and manipulate the installation status of servers belonging to other nodes. Wings nodes may also manipulate the transfer status of servers belonging to other nodes. This vulnerability requires a user to acquire a secret access token for a node. Unless a user gains access to a Wings secret access token they would not be able to access any of these vulnerable endpoints, as every endpoint requires a valid node access token. A single compromised Wings node daemon token (stored in plaintext at `/etc/pterodactyl/config.yml`) grants access to sensitive configuration data of every server on the panel, rather than only to servers that the node has access to. An attacker can use this information to move laterally through the system, send excessive notifications, destroy server data on other nodes, and otherwise exfiltrate secrets that they should not have access to with only a node token. Additionally, triggering a false transfer success causes the panel to delete the server from the source node, resulting in permanent data loss. Users should upgrade to version 1.12.1 to receive a fix.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pterodactyl | panel | before 1.12.1 | 1.12.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | pterodactyl/panel (Packagist) | before 1.12.1 | 1.12.1 | Patch available | GHSA-g7vw-f8p5-c728 |
- panel Vendorpterodactyl Affected before 1.12.1 Fixed in 1.12.1 Patch available CNA
- pterodactyl/panel (Packagist) Vendor— Affected before 1.12.1 Fixed in 1.12.1 Patch available GHSA-g7vw-f8p5-c728
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:pterodactyl:panel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.12.1 | Vulnerable | pterodactyl |
- cpe:2.3:a:pterodactyl:panel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.12.1 Vulnerable ·pterodactyl
Remediation
- Fix · CNA panel (pterodactyl) Fixed in 1.12.1
- Fix · GHSA-g7vw-f8p5-c728 pterodactyl/panel (Packagist) Fixed in 1.12.1 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-26016
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g7vw-f8p5-c728
References
More pterodactyl Panel vulnerabilities
- TI-2021-17968 Authentication bypass in Pterodactyl CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2019-16080 Pterodactyl before 0.7.14 with 2FA allows credential sniffing. CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-42410 Pterodactyl does not revoke SFTP access when server is deleted or permissions reduced CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-42651 Pterodactyl TOTPs can be reused during validity window CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2024-22525 Multiple cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the admin area of Pterodactyl panel CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
- TI-2025-42652 Pterodactyl's improper resource locking allows raced queries to create more resources than alloted CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-26016 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-26016 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-g7vw-f8p5-c728 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences