Local Incus UI web server vulnerable to nuthentication bypass
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-287.
Summary
Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 6.23.0, the web server spawned by `incus webui` incorrectly validates the authentication token such that an invalid value will be accepted. `incus webui` runs a local web server on a random localhost port. For authentication, it provides the user with a URL containing an authentication token. When accessed with that token, Incus creates a cookie persisting that token without needing to include it in subsequent HTTP requests. While the Incus client correctly validates the value of the cookie, it does not correctly validate the token when passed int the URL. This allows for an attacker able to locate and talk to the temporary web server on localhost to have as much access to Incus as the user who ran `incus webui`. This can lead to privilege escalation by another local user or an access to the user's Incus instances and possibly system resources by a remote attack able to trick the local user into interacting with the Incus UI web server. Version 6.23.0 patches the issue.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lxc | incus | before 6.23.0 | 6.23.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incus (Go) | before 6.23.0 | 6.23.0 | Patch available | GHSA-453r-g2pg-cxxq |
- incus Vendorlxc Affected before 6.23.0 Fixed in 6.23.0 Patch available CNA
- github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incus (Go) Vendor— Affected before 6.23.0 Fixed in 6.23.0 Patch available GHSA-453r-g2pg-cxxq
Remediation
- Fix · CNA incus (lxc) Fixed in 6.23.0
- Fix · GHSA-453r-g2pg-cxxq github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incus (Go) Fixed in 6.23.0 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-33898
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-453r-g2pg-cxxq
References
More lxc Incus vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-19296 Incus container image templating arbitrary host file read and write CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-19295 Incus container environment configuration newline injection CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.7
- TI-2025-39899 Incus vulnerable to local privilege escalation through custom storage volumes CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.6
- TI-2026-29045 Incus out-of-bounds panic in snapshot metadata handling allows denial of service CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
- TI-2026-29009 Incus nil-pointer dereference in storage bucket import allows denial of service CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
- TI-2026-26122 Incus vulnerable to denial of source through crafted bucket backup file CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-33898 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-33898 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-453r-g2pg-cxxq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-33898 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences