Directus Affected by GraphQL Alias Amplification Denial-of-Service Due to Missing Query Cost/Complexity Limits
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Prior to 11.17.0, Directus' GraphQL endpoints (/graphql and /graphql/system) did not deduplicate resolver invocations within a single request. An authenticated user could exploit GraphQL aliasing to repeat an expensive relational query many times in a single request, forcing the server to execute a large number of independent complex database queries concurrently, multiplying database load linearly with the number of aliases. The existing token limit on GraphQL queries still permitted enough aliases for significant resource exhaustion, while the relational depth limit applied per alias without reducing the total number executed. Rate limiting is disabled by default, meaning no built-in throttle prevented this from causing CPU, memory, and I/O exhaustion that could degrade or crash the service. Any authenticated user, including those with minimal read-only permissions, could trigger this condition. This vulnerability is fixed in 11.17.0.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| directus | directus | before 11.17.0 | 11.17.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | directus (npm) | before 11.17.0 | 11.17.0 | Patch available | GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj |
- directus Vendordirectus Affected before 11.17.0 Fixed in 11.17.0 Patch available CNA
- directus (npm) Vendor— Affected before 11.17.0 Fixed in 11.17.0 Patch available GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj
Remediation
- Fix · CNA directus (directus) Fixed in 11.17.0
- Fix · GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj directus (npm) Fixed in 11.17.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-35441
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj
References
More Directus vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-21659 Directus's webhook trigger flows can leak sensitive data CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2024-36266 Directus allows unauthenticated access to WebSocket events and operations CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2024-26791 Directus allows SSO User Enumeration CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2024-23956 Directus is soft-locked by providing a string value to random string util CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2024-26624 Directus Incorrectly handles _in` filter CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.7
- TI-2025-21658 Directus `search` query parameter allows enumeration of non permitted fields CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-35441 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-35441 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-ph52-67fq-75wj · 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